Jennifer Daskal examines the growing threat of unauthorized drones and the security measures needed to protect the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in her Daily Journal article, “LA28’s Drone Security Challenge.” The following is an excerpt:
During this summer’s FIFA World Cup, federal authorities seized more than 700 unauthorized drones in restricted airspace near tournament venues across the United States—including 59 drones in Los Angeles. Fortunately, the tournament ended without a major security incident. No drone crashes, no dangerous payloads, no resulting death or destruction.
Luck played a role, but so did careful planning, including extensive coordination among local, state and federal authorities, supported by new legal powers and grants for state and local counter-drone efforts.
The key takeaway for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles: start planning now!
The Los Angeles Games will have a sprawling footprint, involving multiple municipalities and complex event structures that, unlike the more contained World Cup, extend beyond specific stadiums. Organizers anticipate more than 40 competition venues, plus a marathon route, fan zones, the athletes’ village and shuttle buses.
Several events will be held along the waterfront—meaning that organizers need to think about risks from both the sky and the sea, particularly as submersible drones become more widely available and technologically sophisticated. The security of nearby critical infrastructure is also key. An attack on the electric grid or a local transit system could have cascading effects on the Games, even if no specific LA28 venue is the target of the attack.
For the full article, click here.