DJI won an important victory today in the increasingly complex legal landscape for Chinese companies operating within the United States. CCP Counter Drone Act It was not included in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed in the United States Congress this week, meaning DJI is not banned from operating or selling products in the United States.
“We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the drone community for your tireless and productive efforts to engage senators and the House of Representatives,” DJI wrote in a letter. new post On its official blog. “Sharing your personal stories and explaining how actions like this will impact you and your business has been really impactful. We reaffirm our commitment to you, our valued partners and customers, and will continue to engage with Members of Congress and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that you continue to have access to our products.
That last line is important, because just because the Countering CCP Drone Act was not included in the newly passed NDAA doesn’t mean DJI is out of the woods. The company notes that the NDAA “demands a risk assessment” regarding Chinese drones, which DJI says it wants to investigate so it can demonstrate its privacy controls and security features to the US government.
However, the company maintained concerns. DJI says the law “unfairly singles out Chinese drones” and fails to designate an agency to conduct the necessary risk studies. If no agency conducts a study, DJI will automatically be added to the FCC’s covered list of banned drones.
Additionally, DJI says it should be given a fair opportunity to respond to any assessment findings, “as no technology audit is ever perfect.” The company has conducted regular internal and external audits of its products since 2017.
“To be clear, DJI is not banned from operating or selling products in the US market,” it insists, despite its concerns over the NDAA passed this week.
DJI has formally requested that Congress designate a technically focused agency to conduct the necessary assessment and allow DJI to respond to the findings.
DJI concluded, “This year has seen a flurry of legislative activity with potential impacts on DJI’s operations…With a new administration taking office in 2025, next year will be equally important, so staying informed and engaged “Will be more important than ever.”
For now, DJI has avoided a full ban in the United States, and the company appears cautiously optimistic that it will continue to operate within the country.
Image Credit: DJI
