U.S. Mulls Ban on Chinese Drones, DJI's 75% Market Share Under Scrutiny

Jan 2, 2025, 04:17 PM

The U.S. Department of Commerce is considering new rules to restrict or ban Chinese drones, citing national security concerns. The proposed regulations aim to address risks associated with foreign adversaries, particularly China and Russia, potentially accessing and manipulating drone technology to expose sensitive U.S. data. Chinese companies, such as DJI, dominate the U.S. commercial drone market, with DJI accounting for at least 75% of sales, raising concerns about data security and supply chain vulnerabilities. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking and is seeking public comments until March 4, 2025. The decision on implementing these rules will fall to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who assumes office on January 20, 2025. The proposed measures are part of broader efforts to secure critical technology supply chains and mitigate risks posed by foreign adversaries.