Appeals for regulation also came at Thursday's debate marking European Data Protection Day. Participants warned about two aspects: privacy and aviation safety.

The use of drones affects people's right to communication and information privacy, argued Information Commissioner Mojca Prelesnik.

Boštjan Vidmar, head of projects at the recently established Institute for the Development of Pilotless Systems, warned that drones increased the risk of air crashes and damage to people and property.

Regulation is urgent, as is the education of drone operators, according to him, as drones have become an unregulated commercial activity.

Vidmar estimates there are up to 1,000 private drone operators in the country, of which 200-300 have made this their business.

The Ministry of Infrastructure is drafting a dedicated rulebook for drones, which Vidmar said should be finalised next month.

But the debate also heard warnings against excessive regulation.

Aleš Završnik of the Ljubljana Law Faculty's Criminology Institute said existing rules should simply be extended to drone use, as drones were merely "a stone in the mosaic" of mass surveillance.

Similarly, Lenart J. Kučić, technology reporter for Delo newspaper, said he was hopeful electronic surveillance would not require a "privacy Chernobyl", which could lead to "extreme regulation".

Excessive regulation can arrest drone development. Pilotless aircraft have many beneficial uses in areas such as logistics, security and rescue operations, added Denis Čaleta, the head of the Institute of Corporate Security Studies.