DJI has publicly responded to the Countering CCP Drones Act. Last year, a select group of Members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill known as the Countering CCP Drones Act. The whole aim of this proposed legislation bill is to block new DJI products from entering the U.S. market. It could also potentially lead to the revocation of their existing FCC authorizations. In the event this, U.S. operators would no longer be able to access new DJI drones, and their existing drone fleets could be grounded.
The Countering CCP Drones Act. was originally put forward by Rep. Elise M Stefanik back in April 2023 and it was referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Official Title as Introduced
To amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to provide for the addition of certain equipment and services produced or provided by DJI Technologies to the list of covered communications equipment or services published under such Act, and for other purposes.
This bill requires the inclusion of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Company Limited (a Chinese drone maker commonly known as DJI Technologies) on a list of communications equipment or services determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. Current law prohibits the use of federal funding available through specified FCC programs for purchasing or maintaining listed equipment or services.
Below is what DJI has has publicly stated about this bill.
This act damages not just DJI, but also the broad ecosystem of operators, businesses and public safety agencies that rely on their technologies to conduct safe and efficient operations.
The lawmakers driving this legislation continue to reference inaccurate and unsubstantiated allegations regarding DJI’s operations, and have amplified xenophobic narratives in a quest to support local drone manufacturers and eliminate market competition.
Viewpoints (the official DJI Blog)
DJI set out to address these issues on its Viewpoints blog. I will summarize some of what the claims made against DJI are, but for a lot more information and DJI’s response to these allegations, head over to the blog.
Some of the allegations include that DJI drones are collecting vast amounts of sensitive data – everything from high-resolution images of critical U.S. infrastructure to facial recognition technology and remote sensors that can measure an individual’s body temperature and heart rate. It is also alleged that DJI can be compelled by governments to assist in espionage and that “DJI is a ‘Chinese Military Company’.”
