DJI Drones Face Potential Ban in the US Amid Security Concerns

US Lawmakers Propose Ban on DJI Drones Over National Security Concerns

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is pushing to ban the sale of drones manufactured by⁢ Chinese‍ company DJI, citing potential national security risks. The proposed legislation, known as the Countering CCP Drones Act, would add DJI to the Commerce Department’s Entity List, effectively prohibiting US companies from exporting technology to the drone​ maker.

Growing Concerns Over Chinese Tech

The move to ban ⁢DJI drones⁤ comes amidst ‍heightened ‌scrutiny of Chinese technology⁤ companies by the US⁢ government. In recent weeks, President‌ Joe Biden has threatened to ban popular social media ⁢app TikTok unless⁢ its Chinese parent ⁣company,​ ByteDance, divests the app within nine months. ⁤The proposed legislation targeting DJI is part‌ of a broader effort to ⁣address ⁤national security concerns related to Chinese technology.

Bipartisan Support for the ⁢Ban

The Countering ‍CCP ⁣Drones Act was first introduced by Rep.⁤ Elise Stefanik (R-NY) in 2022, and has‍ since gained ⁣support from both‍ Republican and⁤ Democratic ​lawmakers. The bill aims to prevent US companies from exporting technology to DJI, effectively cutting off ⁣the drone maker’s access to critical components and software.

“The Chinese‍ Communist ⁤Party is using DJI drones to spy on America, ‌and they are already included on the FCC’s list.”

Next Steps for the Legislation

According to the New York Times, the ​House could vote to move ​forward with⁤ the Countering CCP Drones Act within the next month. If passed, the legislation⁣ would represent a significant blow to DJI, which currently dominates the global drone market.

As the US government continues to⁢ grapple with the ⁤challenges posed by‌ Chinese technology⁤ companies, the proposed ​ban on DJI drones highlights the growing tension between national security concerns and the⁢ global‌ nature of the ‍tech industry.