DJI has warned that its products could soon be banned in the United States, following a recent vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that may pave the way for retroactive restrictions on the Chinese drone manufacturer.
The FCC voted 3-0 last month to “close loopholes in the FCC’s Covered List and secure America’s communication networks against devices determined to pose an unacceptable risk to national security.” DJI said in an Instagram post that a critical deadline determining its fate in the US was “just 43 days away.”
The company urged the US government to conduct a formal audit of Chinese drone makers, stating: “Without it, DJI products could face an automatic ban through no fault of our own.”
The warning came as legislative pressure mounted against the company. The US House of Representatives passed the annual National Defence Authorisation Act in 2024, which included the Countering CCP Drones Act. The provision aimed to add DJI to the FCC’s Covered List, effectively blocking its drones from using communication infrastructure within the US.
DJI criticised the proposed measure, describing it as a result of “baseless allegations and xenophobic fear.” The company said: “The proposed bill sets a dangerous precedent for allowing baseless allegations and xenophobic fears to drive public policy decisions that could negatively impact public safety and the US economy.”
DJI argued that its drones support a wide range of industries in the US, from real estate and agriculture to public safety. It reaffirmed that it was committed to ensuring data protection for all users, noting that its data security practices had been verified “by multiple US federal agencies as well as independent private sector firms” since 2017.
The FCC’s new powers could significantly escalate the situation. By granting itself authority to retroactively block products from companies on its Covered List, the FCC could not only prevent future sales of DJI drones but also stop existing owners from operating their devices in the US.
This development adds to DJI’s ongoing challenges in one of its largest international markets. In 2020, the US Commerce Department placed export restrictions on DJI, alleging that the company was complicit in human rights abuses involving China’s Uyghur minority and had links to the Chinese military. A year earlier, Congress had already banned the Pentagon from procuring or operating drones manufactured in China.
China remains the world’s largest supplier of drones, with around 15,000 companies in the sector. Of these, roughly 1,300 are based in Shenzhen, generating an annual output valued at approximately 16 billion yuan ($2.2 billion), according to figures from the Shenzhen Drone Association.
About DJI
DJI (Da-Jiang Innovations) is a Shenzhen-based technology company founded in 2006. It is the world’s largest manufacturer of consumer and commercial drones, holding a dominant share of the global market. Its products are widely used in filmmaking, photography, agriculture, surveying, and emergency services.
Known for models such as the Mavic, Mini, and Inspire series, DJI has been at the forefront of drone innovation, integrating advanced imaging, obstacle avoidance, and autonomous flight technologies. The company also produces camera stabilisers and aerial imaging systems for professional and industrial applications.
