In addition to the police and defense, operators of critical infrastructure will also be allowed to use jammers to protect their infrastructure against drones. This concerns nuclear installations, prisons, companies that work with hazardous substances (Seveso companies) and the European institutions. The Council of Ministers has given the green light for this, Minister of Government Modernization, responsible for Telecom, Vanessa Matz (Les Engagés) reported on Saturday.
Source: BELGA
Using jamming to disrupt telecom signals is in principle prohibited in Belgium. Exceptions already existed for the police, defense, intelligence and security services, NATO and SHAPE. These exceptions are now being extended to critical infrastructure.
The use of jammers is subject to strict rules. “Institutions must first apply for a permit from BIPT. They must also evaluate the risks for each individual use of jamming. Use is only possible if the benefits outweigh the adverse consequences for third parties. Finally, each use must be reported to BIPT within two hours,” Matz’s office said.
“Jamming can disrupt emergency communications, medical equipment or air navigation and generally remains unacceptable in a civilian environment,” Minister Matz said. “The exceptions are strictly limited to emergency situations and subject to clear rules. We want to provide the opportunity to neutralize threats, but only when this is necessary and when the benefits to society outweigh any adverse consequences.”