Former Obama AG Withdraws from DJI Lawsuit Against Pentagon Amid Controversy

Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has withdrawn from representing DJI Technology in its lawsuit against the Pentagon, following intense criticism from Representative Elise Stefanik and others over her decision to represent the Chinese drone manufacturer, reports the National Review.

High-Stakes Legal Battle Over Pentagon Blacklist

The controversy centers around DJI’s October lawsuit challenging the Pentagon’s decision to add the company to a list of Chinese military companies operating in the U.S. The Shenzhen-based drone maker claims the designation “violates the law and DJI’s due-process rights.”

Security Concerns and Military Ties

The Pentagon added DJI to its restricted list in 2022, citing the company’s alleged ties to China’s People’s Liberation Army. The designation works alongside two separate U.S. government blacklist designations, effectively blocking Americans from exporting to DJI or investing in the company, though the Pentagon’s designation itself carries no direct penalties.

Critical Security Issues

Law enforcement agencies and drone enthusiasts widely use DJI products, yet critics have raised serious concerns about potential data transmission back to China. They point to DJI’s partnerships with authorities in the Xinjiang region and alleged support of surveillance operations targeting ethnic minorities. DJI has consistently rejected these accusations.

Legislative Action

The controversy has sparked concrete legislative action in Congress. Representative Stefanik’s bill to block new DJI drone models from operating on U.S. telecommunication infrastructure recently passed the House of Representatives with unanimous support, demonstrating broad bipartisan concern about the security implications.

DroneXL’s Take

This development highlights the ongoing tensions between commercial drone technology and national security concerns. While DJI remains the global leader in consumer and professional drone technology, the increasing scrutiny of Chinese-made drones has accelerated the development of alternative solutions, particularly in the Blue sUAS program. The situation also underscores the critical importance of data security in drone operations, especially for government and infrastructure applications.

Share your thoughts on this development in the comments below. How do you think this will affect the drone industry’s future in the United States?

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.