DJI Responds to FCC Ban: ‘Not Grounded in Evidence’

DJI has issued its first official response to the FCC’s decision to add foreign-made drones to the Covered List, calling the action “disappointing” and accusing the administration of protectionism rather than legitimate security enforcement.

In a statement provided to DroneXL, a DJI spokesperson confirmed that existing DJI products are not affected by yesterday’s FCC action and pushed back directly on the security rationale behind the ban.

“DJI is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission’s action today to add foreign-made drones to the Covered List,” the spokesperson said. “While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination.”

DJI Calls Out Lack of Evidence

The statement directly challenges the security justification for the ban, pointing to the company’s track record with U.S. government reviews.

“As the industry leader, DJI has advocated for an open, competitive market that benefits all US consumers and commercial users, and will continue to do so,” the spokesperson said. “DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, supported by years of reviews conducted by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties.”

The drone maker then delivered its sharpest criticism:

“Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market.”

This echoes what we’ve been reporting since yesterday: the administration bypassed the security audit mandated by Section 1709 of the NDAA. That provision required the Commerce Department to conduct an actual investigation into whether DJI poses a national security threat before any ban could take effect. Instead, the Executive Branch issued a “national security determination” one day before the December 23 deadline, skipping the evidentiary process entirely.

What This Means for Current DJI Owners

DJI confirmed what the FCC fact sheet indicated: existing products are not affected.

“Today’s development will not affect customers who already own DJI products,”the spokesperson said. “These existing products can continue to be purchased and operated as usual.”

The statement also left the door open for future product launches:

“The FCC’s fact sheet also indicates that new products may, in the future, be cleared for launch based on determinations made by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.”

This is significant. DJI appears to be signaling they will pursue the DoD/DHS exemption pathway rather than abandoning the U.S. market entirely.

DJI Thanks Users Who Spoke Up

The statement concluded with a note of appreciation for the drone community’s advocacy efforts.

“DJI remains committed to the U.S. market. We are deeply grateful to users across the country who spoke up to share how DJI technology supports their work and their communities. We will keep our community informed as more information becomes available.”

Over the past year, thousands of first responders, commercial operators, and recreational pilots contacted their representatives to oppose the ban. Groups like the Drone Advocacy Alliance organized letter-writing campaigns highlighting how DJI drones have saved over 1,000 lives globally and support 87% of public safety drone programs in the United States.

DroneXL’s Take

DJI’s response is measured but pointed. They’re not backing down from the U.S. market, and they’re making clear that they believe this ban is about protectionism, not security.

The key line: “no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination.” That’s DJI saying what we’ve been saying: show us the evidence. The administration banned the world’s leading drone manufacturer without conducting the audit Congress mandated and without releasing any proof of the alleged security threat.

I expect DJI to pursue the DoD/DHS exemption pathway aggressively. Whether that succeeds will tell us whether this ban is actually about security or whether DJI is right that it’s protectionism dressed up in national security language.

We’ll continue to update this story as DJI provides more information. If you’re a DJI user wondering how this affects your operations, let us know in the comments.

Photo credit: DJI