It's that time again. No, not just the holidays; the US National Defense Authorization Act. The latest version just successfully passed through both the US House of Representatives and the Senate. Currently, it's on President Biden's desk, just waiting to be signed.
You might be wondering if DJI drones have officially been banned, which is a fair question. The good-ish news is, they haven't. As the company's lawsuit against the DoD remains active, it's definitely a better bit of news than it could have been, if you're DJI.
So what's actually in the new NDAA, as it relates to the popular Chinese technology company? Instead of an outright ban, there's a provision that requires "an appropriate national security agency" to officially determine, on the record, whether a short list of communications and/or video surveillance equipment is a national security risk.
Just how short is this short list? Only two names are on it: DJI Technologies and Autel Robotics. That's it. That's the entire list.
But as the Verge points out, it's not just the drones that are mentioned. To be very specific, the text of the bill's exact language refers to "Communications or video surveillance equipment produced by Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Company Limited (commonly known as "DJI Technologies.")
That sure sounds like it includes DJI's regular, non-drone cameras as well. And probably its microphone packs, I'd imagine. Those certainly seem like communications devices, don't they? Sorry, vloggers; it was nice equipment while it lasted.
There are also further provisions against subsidiaries, affiliates, and partners with either DJI or Autel Robotics, so the former company's attempt to maybe shake some of the governmental heat with Anzu Robotics is also right out. Oh, and software is also out.
So basically, DJI and Autel Robotics will effectively have a year after the new NDAA is signed into law to get a national security agency, any national security agency convinced that they're not spying on US citizens, honest. Good luck with that. Take that last sentence with as much sarcasm as you feel is appropriate.
And just so we're clear, I'm not a fan of surveillance, no matter who's doing it. That also means that I don't think that it's somehow more OK if it's an American company doing it, either. And that's exactly why all of the hullaballoo over DJI, TikTok, and others has been so incredibly frustrating to watch. The Cambridge Analytica/Facebook mess was just fine, but this is where you draw the line?
So anyway, the can has now officially been kicked down the road for another year on the question of a potential DJI and Autel Robotics ban in the US. Will that be how it eventually shakes out? We'll have to wait and see. Feel free to share your thoughts on this turn of events and its potential future below.
