US considering restricting or banning Chinese drones due to national security threats

The US Department of Commerce is considering restricting or banning Chinese drones over national security threats, the New York Post reports.

The department has announced plans to introduce new rules that could restrict or completely ban the sale of Chinese drones in the country. The move comes amid growing national security concerns, especially after a series of unidentified drones were spotted in New Jersey and New York.

The statement from the department notes that there are threats from China and Russia, when they can remotely access these devices, which puts sensitive US data at risk.

China, in particular DJI, dominates the global drone market, occupying more than 90% of the consumer segment. Former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Paul Rosenzweig believes that while the risks from Chinese drones are moderate compared to other Chinese technologies, such as 5G or microchips, it is still worth paying attention to reducing this vulnerability.

The final decision on the possible introduction of a ban on Chinese drones is expected to be made by the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20. Trump has already nominated billionaire Howard Latnick to replace Raimondo as commerce secretary.

In December, Congress passed a bill that would ban the sale of new drones from DJI and Autel Robotics for a year if they pose an unacceptable national security risk after being reviewed. Earlier in 2019, Congress banned the Pentagon from buying or using drones and components made in China.

DJI denies any wrongdoing and in October sued the U.S. Department of Defense for including it on a list of companies that allegedly cooperate with the Chinese military.