If you’ve added a DJI drone to your Christmas wish list, you might want to click “Buy” right away. The company issued a stern warning on Monday that sales of its drones could be banned in the United States and that the deadline was approaching.
Here’s the deal: it The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-0 just voted to “close loopholes” that allow technology deemed a “national security risk” to be sold to the United States. In short, the US government is paving the way to give DJI the same treatment as Huawei by effectively banning its products from the US market.
DJI is already sounding the alarm by posting on Instagram that “only 43 days remain until the deadline that could decide DJI’s fate in the US.” The company warns that without testing their products, they could face an “automatic ban”. The U.S. government has long viewed the Chinese drone maker as a security risk, and it appears the hammer will finally come down just before the holidays.
The US government has classified China-based DJI as a security risk. A separate ban on TP-Link routers is also being considered.
However, voting is not the end of the road. Future bans should target specific products and require public consultation. However, the groundwork appears to have been laid for the FCC to block the sale of future and existing DJI drones on US shores, as well as products that use DJI technology.
The government has called for a DJI audit by the end of the year, but if that doesn’t happen, DJI drones will be sold You may not be allowed to sell by default due to national security legislation..
DJI requires safety review before ban
Adam Welsh, DJI’s director of global policy, said the company has repeatedly said it is open to criticism, but that “more than 10 months have passed without any sign that the process has begun.”
“The United States government has every right to strengthen national security measures, but this must be accompanied by fairness, justice and transparency,” Welsh said.
Welsh said DJI is urging the government to begin the review or grant an extension.
Should DJI drone owners have to go without?
Since the ban would apply to new sales and not already sold drones, it would still be legal to use a DJI drone you already own, at least under current regulations.
However, government agencies are prohibited from buying or using drones from Chinese companies, including DJI.
Even DJI products that are not yet banned can be hard to find. The UAV Coach website has has published a prohibition guide and reports that due to inventory issues, most DJI drone models are out of stock at retailers, regardless of future FCC action.