DJI to U.S. government: Dont ban us, answer us
As the holiday season approaches, a looming deadline threatens to disrupt the U.S. drone market significantly, particularly for DJI, the world’s leading drone manufacturer, which produces a staggering 90% of all drones globally. According to U.S. law, DJI must pass a government audit by December 23 to avoid being placed on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “Covered list,” effectively barring the company from selling its products in the U.S. market. Despite DJI’s readiness to undergo the audit, there has been a troubling lack of response from the Trump administration, raising concerns that the company may face a ban just before Christmas, a time when drone sales typically peak.
In a bid to prompt action, DJI has resorted to sending open letters to several key figures in the administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel. The letters emphasize DJI’s commitment to security and their eagerness to cooperate with the government to ensure the mandated security review occurs promptly. Adam Welsh, DJI’s head of global policy, highlighted the safety features of their drones, such as the fact that flight logs and images are not stored on external servers unless users choose to do so. Welsh expressed concern that a ban would not only confuse consumers—especially farmers who rely on drone technology—but would also undermine the legislative intent behind the security review process.
The administration’s silence on these open letters has left many in the drone community anxious. Past statements from Hegseth’s department have insinuated that DJI operates as a front for the Chinese military, a claim that has been made without substantial evidence. As the deadline approaches, the fate of DJI in the U.S. market hangs in the balance, with potential implications for consumers and businesses alike. The outcome of this situation could significantly affect the drone industry and the availability of DJI’s innovative technology during a critical sales season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zqYWQmUNbY
Is the Trump administration about to be the Grinch that stole sales of most drones just before Christmas?
There’s a
Dec. 23 deadline looming for DJI
, which makes 90 percent of the world’s drones, to pass an audit from the U.S. government. Without an audit, U.S. law says DJI will go on the FCC’s naughty list — sorry, Covered list — effectively a ban on further U.S. sales.
DJI has long said it is happy to schedule the new U.S. audit; after all, the company has years of independent audits (and a Department of the Interior audit) under its belt. But with no reply from anyone in the Trump administration three weeks before deadline, DJI drones look like they will be left high and dry.
That’s why DJI just took the desperate step of sending open letters to Homeland Security head Kristi Noem, FBI boss Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Department of Defense (or is that War?) chief Pete Hegseth — whom they’d written to multiple times privately.
“In September you indicated through written communication the Department’s willingness to work with DJI,” the letter to Noem says. (Translation:
we’ve got the receipts
.) “We stand behind the security of our technology, and are keen to meet with you and ensure that this Congressionally-mandated security review takes place as soon as possible so you can fulfill your commitment.”
SEE ALSO:
Everything we know about the looming DJI drone ban in the United States
Adam Welsh, DJI head of global policy, ticked off all the ways DJI drones are safe — flight logs don’t go on servers, images and videos aren’t backed up to servers unless the user wants, and there’s a “local data” mode that cuts all connection between the drone and the internet.
With an eye to outraged consumers — especially farmers who use drone technology — Welsh wrote that a ban “would lead to widespread consumer confusion and deprive American drone users of due process — and of answers about the safety and security of the DJI products they use every day. Failing to undertake the review further goes against Congressional intent for a security review to be completed.”
The administration hasn’t commented on the open letters yet, but in the past, Hegseth’s department has claimed — without evidence — that DJI is a Chinese military company.
