DJI avoided a US ban but has a year to prove its products do not pose a threat to national security

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was just released and gives DJI a one-year reprieve before potentially being banned in the U.S. The Verge reported. It was expected that DJI and competitor Autel could be banned by the end of 2024. due to the CCP Anti-Drone Law provision. However, the bill gives DJI an additional year to prove to an “appropriate national security agency” that its products do not pose a national security risk to the US.

If it doesn’t, the bill allows the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to put DJI drones on its list for 2026, meaning retailers will no longer be able to import them. It also means that the products (including drones and cameras like the Osmo Pocket 3) will be banned from connecting to US networks and their internal radios will no longer be permitted by the FCC. This would technically prohibit the use of DJI products already owned by users, although the US probably won’t stop users from doing so.

In response to his A blog about viewpointsDJI said it was “good news” that the ban was not included in this year’s budget. However, it states that “Chinese-made drones have been selected for inspection, and the legislation does not specify a specific agency to undertake the necessary investigation.” The latter point could hurt the company “simply because no agency has chosen to take on the job of studying our product,” it said.

The main reason DJI is still alive is by supporting drone enthusiasts and content creators, along with law enforcement and search and rescue organizations. “Should a bill like this pass in its entirety and potentially ban the use of Chinese drones for public safety, it would be catastrophic for the public safety drone industry.” said Law Enforcement Drone Association spokesman Brendan Carr in a letter to Congress.

However, US officials believe they pose a risk. “DJI drones are a national security threat to TikTok, but with wings. This Chinese-controlled company cannot be allowed to continue operating in the US.” said Republican Representative Elise Stefanik. “These Chinese-made drones allow the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party, to access data behind the scenes and ultimately spy on Americans,” added Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamurthy.