Fox News and Politicians Display Shocking Ignorance About DJI Drone Technology in Pentagon Lawsuit Discussion

In a display of concerning technical misunderstanding, prominent politicians and media figures discussed DJI’s lawsuit against the Department of Defense on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria,” according to a recent broadcast featuring Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and referencing Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). You can see the entire clip below.

Controversial Legal Representation Sparks Debate

Former Obama Administration Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s representation of DJI has triggered heated responses from politicians. Rep. Stefanik accused Lynch of “turning her back on her nation,” characterizing the lawsuit as a distraction from alleged Uyghur labor concerns.

Politicians Display Fundamental Misunderstanding of Drone Technology

The discussion revealed a striking lack of technical knowledge about drone operations.

Host Maria Bartiromo asked, “If we’re buying drones from a Chinese company, does that mean that everything those drones see China can see?”

Sen. Hagerty’s response demonstrated similar confusion: “Ever since 2018, that’s been the case because that’s what the Chinese national security law says.”

This statement is technically incorrect, as DJI drones can operate in Local Data Mode, completely disconnected from any networks.

Critical Technical Context Missing from Discussion

The politicians’ claims about data transmission ignore several key facts:

• DJI drones can operate completely offline
• Local Data Mode prevents any data transmission
• Air-gapped operations are standard practice for sensitive missions
• No evidence has ever been presented of DJI drones transmitting data to China

Political Rhetoric vs. Reality

“It’s unbelievable that we are buying drones from a Chinese drone maker and that enables China to see everything that we see on those drones,” Bartiromo stated, furthering the misconception. Sen. Hagerty added it was “unconscionable” and called it a “national security urgency.”

Timeline and Background

The discussion referenced events from the Trump administration, when the Army first restricted DJI drone use in 2017. Rep. Stefanik’s “unanimously passed Countering CCP Drones Act,” was mentioned though the conversation lacked technical specifics about the legislation’s requirements.

The Bigger Security Picture

Sen. Hagerty claimed the Biden-Harris administration’s foreign policies “make China the net winner,” while suggesting the situation would change “November the fifth with president [Trump].” However, these political statements overshadowed the technical realities of drone security measures.

DroneXL’s Take

From both data security and drone technology perspectives, this discussion exemplifies how political rhetoric often contradicts technical reality. The capability to operate DJI drones in Local Data Mode effectively nullifies data transmission concerns, making the politicians’ claims particularly problematic. This gap between technical truth and political narrative highlights the urgent need for better technological literacy among policymakers and media figures discussing drone security.

The lack of basic Drone Technology understanding displayed by these public figures raises serious concerns about the quality of drone-related policy discussions and decision-making at the highest levels of government.

What do you think about the disconnect between political claims and technical realities in the Drone Industry? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Photo courtesy of Fox News

Hat tip to M. Bagwell for passing this news along.