Danish Government Proposes Access to Private Land for Defense Surveillance

The Danish government is advancing a legislative proposal that would grant the military access to private land for the purpose of installing surveillance equipment. Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus stated that the bill, expected to pass in early December, aims to provide a comprehensive overview of drone activity across Denmark.

This initiative is part of establishing a "drone shield" to better monitor airspace and maritime areas. The proposal suggests that the Danish Defense could deploy sensors and radar on both private and public land. However, it explicitly excludes residential properties, daycare centers, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes from this access.

“

It is important that we have an overview of what is happening across Denmark in relation to drones. This bill is about enabling a full picture and thus having a foundation for creating a drone shield.

Beyond gaining access to private land, the bill also proposes mandating owners of critical infrastructure, such as bridges and energy facilities, to share data from their equipment with the Defense. The government intends to reimburse any expenses incurred by property owners or operators for this data sharing.

Furthermore, the legislation introduces fines and potential imprisonment for those who refuse to grant the Defense access to install or maintain surveillance equipment when mandated. Minister Bruus clarified that these measures are designed to create a unified picture of potential threats, particularly around sensitive locations like airports and critical infrastructure, for sharing with relevant authorities.

“

The proposal is very much about us needing to have different types of sensors set up in many more places than on the Defense's own areas. This gives us the opportunity to create a real drone shield.