Chinese drone giant DJI, the world’s leading civilian drone maker, has avoided an immediate ban in the United States, but it isn’t out of the woods yet. The recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025 (FY25) sets the stage for a one-year countdown, during which DJI must prove its products don’t pose a risk to U.S. national security. If the company fails to do so, its products could face an automatic ban by the end of 2025.
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What’s Happening
No Immediate Ban: DJI wasn’t hit with a quick ban, as some feared. Instead, the bill gives DJI one year to convince a U.S. national security agency that its products are not a risk.
What Happens After a Year: If DJI fails to get this approval, their products will be added to a government “banned list.” This means:
- DJI drones and cameras can’t be imported or sold in the U.S.
- They won’t work with U.S. communication networks.
Existing DJI Gear: Current DJI users can still keep and use their gadgets. However, new DJI products with radios or cameras (not just drones) would be blocked.
No Loopholes: DJI can’t get around this by selling products under different names or licensing its tech to other companies. The bill bans any subsidiaries or partners from doing the same.
DJI’s Concerns: DJI says the process is unclear. They’re worried no U.S. agency will take up the task of assessing their products, which would lead to an automatic ban without a fair review.
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Why DJI is in the Hot Seat
In recent years, the U.S. government has developed a level of caution about Chinese technology by raising issues of national security. DJI has been accused of having ties to the Chinese government, and it has been listed as a “Chinese military company” by the U.S. Department of Defense, something that DJI denies.
DJI has also had problems such as import restrictions arising from human rights situations as well as lawsuits that sought to remove DJI’s label as a military company. Nevertheless, DJI continues to dominate the commercial drone market, with its products being employed by various enterprises, first responders, and enthusiasts.
DJI’s Strategy to Avoid a Ban
DJI has been proactive in defending itself:
Transparency: The company regularly conducts audits and has a bug bounty program to address potential security flaws.
Community Support: To ensure the products were not withdrawn from the market, DJI mobilized its U.S. clients to support the continuation of its sales. Experts and photographers also gave their testimonies to the legislators, showing how such a ban would be disastrous to sectors such as photography, farming, and managing disasters.
Legal Challenges: DJI is suing the U.S. Department of Defense over its military company designation, arguing that it produces consumer and commercial drones, not military equipment.
In a blog post, DJI emphasized its commitment to addressing any security concerns and called for a fair, evidence-based review process. The company has asked Congress to assign a technically qualified agency to assess its products and provide a chance to respond to any findings.
What’s Next for DJI?
The next year will be critical for DJI’s future in the U.S. market. If no agency conducts a proper review, or if DJI fails to address security concerns, the FCC will add the company to its Covered List, effectively banning its products.
Although this threat has been averted, DJI faces legislative, legal, and regulatory hurdles to avoid the ban in the next year, 2025. For now, all DJI drones, including the Mavic 3 Pro, DJI Neo, and FPV Avata 2, are still being sold to customers in the United States.
In short, DJI has temporarily escaped a ban but faces a high-stakes battle to secure its place in the U.S. market.
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