In a statement, the Federation for Hunting & Conservation – Malta (FKNK), has said that “on behalf of all of its members in principle and on behalf of several of its members who have been filmed without their consent, intends to press charges in Court against German-based CABS personnel.”

“The charges will include, but are not limited to: harassment; intrusion of privacy; trespassing; spying; flying of an unmanned remote-controlled aircraft equipped with video-recording equipment at a low altitude over private property; landing of this aircraft on private-owned land; unauthorised video and photo shooting; breach of local air-traffic control regulations and related dangers; etc,” CABS said.

“In view of the fact that the footage and photos shot by CABS invade the privacy of Maltese nationals and since these were carried out without their knowledge and consent, the FKNK calls on the Commissioner of Police to confiscate the footage and photos in the interest of the protection of personal data of Maltese citizens.”

The FKNK continued that it also “calls on the said Commissioner to take the necessary criminal action against the operators of this aircraft so that such illegalities are curtailed.”

“A report will also be lodged with the Data Protection Commissioner for data protection violation. The FKNK therefore calls upon the Commissioner to take necessary steps against these perpetrators for abusing the very laws that protect an individual’s right to privacy,” it said.

“This is not about hunting. This is about us being Maltese and proud of it. Nevertheless, as a Federation of 10,000 adult Maltese hunter members, 6,500 of which should be able to hunt legally without foreign provocation from this German charade, the FKNK does not mean to let this rest, and if need be it is prepared to take this up at EU level, FKNK concluded.

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