A bill has emerged that would effectively ban the use of DJI drones
The House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee has passed a bill calling for a ban on DJI drones, citing that DJI, one of the world's largest drone manufacturers, has ties to the Chinese Communist Party and poses a national security threat. DJI has strongly opposed the bill, saying it is based on inaccurate and unfounded allegations.
Stefanik's CCP Drones Act and FACT Act Advance through E&C Committee Following Markup | Press Releases | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik
A Chinese Firm Is America's Favorite Drone Maker. Except in Washington. - The New York Times
DJI Could Get Banned In The US As Authorities Believe That The Chinese Firm And Its Drones Present A Major Security Risk
https://wccftech.com/dji-getting-banned-in-the-us/
DJI faces US ban if the Countering CCP Drones Act becomes law - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/26/24141369/dji-ban-china-countering-ccp-drones-act
Rep. Elise Stefanik introduced two bills, the Countering CCP Drones Act and the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (FACT Act), both of which passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously.
'The passage of my two bipartisan bills is a victory for our national security and for Americans whose critical infrastructure is monitored and data collected by our adversary, the Chinese Communist Party,' said Senator Stefanik. 'Congress must use all our tools to stop the Chinese Communist Party's monopoly on the drone market and communications infrastructure and strengthen American industrial power.'
'Based on DJI's ties to the Chinese Communist Party, the Administration has already labeled DJI a national security threat and blacklisted it from multiple government agencies,' said Raja Krishnamoorthi, chairman of the Select Subcommittee on Strategic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party. 'This bill would further protect our communications equipment while strengthening America's supply chain by preventing foreign technology that poses a serious national security threat, like DJI's, from operating on American networks.'
'DJI is providing data to a surveillance state that is targeting Uighurs and other Turkic peoples for genocide,' said Omer Kanat, executive director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project. 'It's time for the US government to ensure that Americans and law enforcement are not complicit in human rights abuses and protect our data from being transferred to China. We thank Stefanik and her colleagues for leading the effort to have DJI added to the FCC's blacklist.'
As Krishnamoorthi noted, the US Department of Commerce already added DJI to its embargo list in 2020.
The US Department of Commerce adds DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer, to the embargo list, citing its 'technological contribution to human rights violations' - GIGAZINE
Also in 2021, the Treasury Department added DJI to its list of 'Chinese military-industrial complex companies.'
DJI has responded to the Anti-China Communist Party Drone Bill by calling its claims 'inaccurate and unfounded.'
Get The Facts: Countering CCP Drones Act
https://viewpoints.dji.com/blog/get-the-facts-countering-ccp-drones-act
Below is DJI's response to the 'inaccurate information' provided:
Myth 1:
DJI drones are equipped with technology and sensors that can measure an individual's body temperature and heart rate, and collect large amounts of sensitive data from high-resolution imagery of the US.
DJI response:
DJI drones don't collect flight logs, photos or video by default - operators must opt in to share the data. For added data protection, Local Data Mode keeps the flight app completely disconnected from the internet.
DJI also does not recommend using drones for purposes such as measuring body temperature or heart rate. New uses for drones have been explored during the COVID-19 pandemic for public safety and emergency response. Body temperature measurement via drones is one of them, but it has more disadvantages than advantages. Heart rate measurement was conducted by another drone manufacturer and DJI was not involved.
False claim 2:
DJI could be forced by governments to assist in espionage.
DJI response:
DJI follows the rules and regulations of the markets in which it operates and, like any global technology company, may disclose certain information based on local laws.
If an order is received, DJI will verify whether it meets the requirements for disclosure, which state that the information sought to be disclosed only includes data shared with DJI within the jurisdiction of the country in question. This is limited to data that DJI has access to. As mentioned above, DJI does not collect flight logs, photos, or videos by default.
Myth 3:
DJI is a Chinese military company.
DJI response:
DJI is not a military company. We are one of the few drone manufacturers that clearly condemns and actively discourages the use of drones for weaponization. DJI does not manufacture military products and is not pursuing weapons business opportunities. Our distributors, resellers, and other business partners have also committed to following this policy when selling DJI products. They understand that if they break this commitment, our business relationship will end.
Myth 4:
DJI supports human rights violations.
DJI response:
DJI has no involvement in any human rights violations or other activities. Like any other manufacturer, DJI products are manufactured and we have no control over how they are used. However, through years of investment in product safety and security, DJI has demonstrated that its products are developed for peaceful, civilian use only.
If the bill passes Congress and becomes law, it would not restrict existing drones, but would prevent DJI from flying its new products.
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