DJI Still Grounded in the U.S. – A Complete Ban of Chinese Drones and Parts may be Imminent
In a decision that will have major impacts on the drone market in the U.S., a Federal judge has ruled that DJI must stay on the list of “Chinese Military Companies,” a designation that will keep DJI from selling drones domestically.
The FCC has also proposed adding more companies to the list of banned products, though they have not made it clear which companies might be on the list.
The issue, or at least the supposed issue, is that the U.S. government wants to eliminate spying on critical infrastructure. Huawei is another company on the list, with the suspicion being that Huawei phones have a backend that would allow the Chinese government to spy on users.
This is not the only hurdle DJI faces. DJI is subject to a review by the U.S. national security agencies by the end of the year, and if that is not completed, DJI will be automatically added to a list of companies that are prevented from getting certified to operate in the United States. Unfortunately for DJI, that review is not guaranteed. Without action, DJI will almost certainly be prohibited from selling drones in the United States permanently.
It’s also not the only hurdle faced by the drone industry. The Commerce Department, under the guidance of the Trump administration, is pushing to ban all Chinese-made drones and components.
As reported by Reuters: “The Commerce Department in January said it could also target for restrictions drone systems like onboard computers, communications and flight control systems, ground control stations, operating software and data storage.”
The result will be a complete and total ban on not only DJI drones, but also any other Chinese drones, parts, or technology.
The FCC has announced it is working on plans to remove previously authorized device certification, preventing the products currently available in the U.S. from being imported, sold, or even marketed.
The government has provided no proof to indicate that DJI drones are engaged in spying. DJI also argues that they offer a local-data-only mode that disables all internet connectivity on demand, and they have offered independent auditors to review their equipment. Many in the drone community think the move is more about stifling competition than protecting infrastructure.
The argument about Chinese cell phones seems like a good one to me. After all, a phone is a self-contained device with full access to the internet, as well as access to your contacts, calendar, mail, browser history, and is complete with cameras and microphones. A cell phone is also carried around all day, giving it a wide range of spy-friendly targets.
Personally, I am much less convinced that DJI drones are being used to spy on things via the technology they use, though individuals have been caught flying drones near military installations.
The continued grounding of DJI’s drones means that emergency rescue operations will be curtailed, and creators will have to seek alternative drones. Unfortunately, DJI owns the majority of the drone market, leaving consumers with little choice in gear.
No matter your position on these governmental policies, a ban on all imported drones and components will decimate many industries and will have a significant impact on creators in travel, adventure sports, real estate, wildlife, and more.
Normally I’d call for some action, but in this case I’m not sure any can help. The FCC can pass regulations without congressional approval, as can the Commerce Department. With the current administration, there’s little to no chance that DJI will be saved, as it’s the current administration that is pursuing these changes.
Will DJI drones return to the shelves in the U.S.? It’s unlikely, and there is no telling yet how much of an effect this will have on the company. The U.S. is its biggest market, and few companies survive losing the biggest base of customers
Source: Drone Life , Reuters