The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) spending bill has just been released and it gives DJI a year’s reprieve before it is potentially banned in the US, reports The Verge. It was expected that DJI and rival Autel could be banned by the end of 2024 due to a provision of the CCP Drone Act. However, the bill gives DJI an additional year to prove to an “appropriate national security agency” that its products do not pose a national security risk in the US.
Failing that to happen, the bill authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to put DJI’s drones on its covered list for 2026, meaning retailers will no longer be able to import them. It also means that the products (including drones and cameras like the Osmo Pocket 3) will be banned from connecting to US networks, and their internal radios will no longer be authorized by the FCC. This would technically ban consumers from using DJI products they already own, although the US would not prevent consumers from doing so.
In a response on its Viewpoint blog, DJI said it was “good news” that the ban was not included in this year’s budget. However, it pointed out that “drones manufactured in China are singled out for scrutiny and no specific agency is designated to conduct the study required in the law.”
The latter point could hurt the company “simply because no agency chose to undertake the task of studying our product,” it wrote. The main reason DJI is still alive is the support of drone enthusiasts and content creators, as well as law enforcement and search and rescue organizations.
“In the event of such a bill being fully passed and potentially banning the use of Chinese drones for public safety, it would be devastating to the public safety drone industry,” Law Enforcement Drone Association spokesman Brendan Karr said in a letter to Congress.
However, US representatives believe they are a risk. Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik said, “DJI drones are a national security threat akin to TikTok, but with wings. This Chinese-controlled company cannot be allowed to continue operating in the United States.”
Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said, “These drones manufactured by China allow the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party, to access data through a backdoor and ultimately monitor Americans.”
Aside from the Global Shutter on Sony’s A9 III and some fantastic mirrorless options — the Fujifilm X100 VI, Panasonic S9 and Canon EOS R5 II come to mind — 2024 was a dull year for cameras filled with small changes and minor improvements. Except for DJI’s Neo. At $200, aerial photography is now within reach of nearly everyone. DJI’s pretty good, but not so good
DJI released its product lineup this year with a sword of Damocles hanging over its head: the U.S. government was planning to ban sales of the company’s products by the end of 2024 due to fears of potential espionage. It was only at the last minute that DJI got a reprieve, thanks largely to lobbying by public safety groups that rely heavily on its drones. It now has until the end of 2025 to prove that its products don’t pose a risk.
The company’s 2024 list of camera gear started with the Avata 2, an FPV drone that improved almost everything from the popular original at a lower price. DJI then announced the $299 Mini 4K. We also saw the Action 5 Pro, which is DJI’s best action camera yet, as well as the Air 3S, a highly capable drone with a relatively large 1-inch sensor camera, and the Mic Mini, an affordable wireless mic system.