A proposal to ban DJI drones passed a key hurdle in the U.S. Congress. The measure, attached to a larger defense spending bill, advanced by a lopsided vote (57-1) in a congressional committee.
Supporters of the ban, like Representative Austin Scott, argue it would reduce reliance on China for critical technology. Scott said the ban would essentially “remove communist China from our supply chain.”
The proposal now heads to the full House of Representatives for debate and a vote. It’s unclear what the ultimate fate of the ban will be, but its passage through committee suggests growing momentum for restrictions on DJI.
The Countering CCP Drones Act was a bill proposed in the U.S. Congress that targets drone technology from Chinese companies, particularly Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Company Limited (DJI), the world’s leading drone manufacturer. It aims to restrict the use of these drones due to potential national security risks.
- FCC Covered List: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the power to designate equipment or services as security threats. If the Act passes, DJI could be added to this “Covered List.”
- Limited Functionality: Being on the Covered List could restrict DJI’s ability to use communication channels essential for their drones to function. This would make it difficult for them to operate in the US.
It went through as part of this.
