US authorities have targeted Chinese drone maker DJI, a company that has popularized drones for consumer and commercial markets around the world. The US Congress intends to ban its activities, as it has begun to consider DJI as a threat to national security. After the bipartisan bill passed and the company was placed on the FCC’s communications infrastructure blocking list, DJI’s US business will effectively cease to exist.
DJI sells drones in a wide range of markets, from consumer to agriculture and delivery. Professional hobbyists and content creators use these drones for various purposes. Although the main purpose of drones is personal or commercial, this does not prevent criminals from using them for nefarious purposes.
DJI’s drones are not intended for combat, but the company has run into trouble with U.S. lawmakers largely because 6 percent of its shares are held by Chinese state-owned enterprises. There are concerns about vulnerabilities and/or backdoors in DJI’s app, and that profits from DJI’s business will strengthen the Chinese Communist Party.
Representative Eliza Stefanik, a New York state senator, said: “DJI poses an unacceptable national security risk, and it is long past time to remove drones manufactured by Communist China from America.” DJI, however, denies these claims. DJI spokeswoman Regina Lin denied that the company’s drones are being used to violate human rights because they are not intended for surveillance.
Although the company does not sell drones for military purposes, DJI drones are known to be used in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Its products were also used to spy on Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, although there was no ban as a direct response at the time. If the same approach is applied to other companies, many business entities will fall under it. It is important to disinvest or discourage companies that actively engage in human rights abuses, regardless of whose side they are on.
Privacy is always an issue that should not only concern companies from a certain country. Regardless of the reasons, banning tech companies from selling and operating appears to have little to no impact on many companies and countries in the long term.
After the law is passed, the sale of DJI drones, even to consumers, will be prohibited. Any such ban would seriously affect the company’s share of the commercial market, which is expected to reach 58% by 2022, according to data provided by a former employee. While it may not affect drones currently in U.S. ownership, the shutdown will prompt companies to exit the market, often while reducing the availability of service and official parts. This is no different from the banning of Huawei, the NAND manufacturer YMTC and the ongoing process of banning TikTok.
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