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So let us help you stay informed on Countering CCP Drones Act, H.R. 2864
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Notes: As of June 14th: A proposal to ban DJI drones passed a key hurdle in the U.S. Congress. The measure, attached to a larger defense spending bill, advanced by a lopsided vote (57-1) in a congressional committee. The Countering CCP Drones Act made it into the base wording of NDAA 25 so its off to the senate next. The NDAA pretty much always passes. Supporters of the ban, like Representative Austin Scott, argue it would reduce reliance on China for critical technology. Scott said the ban would essentially “remove communist China from our supply chain.” The proposal now heads to the full House of Representatives for debate and a vote. It’s unclear what the ultimate fate of the ban will be, but its passage through committee suggests growing momentum for restrictions on DJI.
NAVIGATING THE DJI DRONE BAN: FACTS, RUMORS, AND INDUSTRY IMPACT
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Getting your voice heard can be time-consuming. We can assist you in making sure your message gets to the right people by crafting messages that reflect your thoughts and delivering them. Review the messages below and select the one that resonates with you. Provide your address so we can ensure it reaches the appropriate legislature. That's all it takes!
For the Agriculture Applicator
Please oppose anything in the Senate resembling the Countering CCP Drones Act, H.R. 2864, and any attempts to include it in the 2025 NDAA. This far-reaching ban would significantly impact farmers and businesses like mine that rely on DJI agricultural drones for precision farming. DJI is the world's most popular drone manufacturer, and opposing this bill is not about compromising U.S. security but about preserving the ability for American farmers to compete globally. Our farmers need access to the best technology to improve crop yields; anything less is unacceptable.
The bill would directly impact me because there are currently no American-made drone options to replace our current drones. Instead of imposing bans, we should establish stringent data security standards for all agricultural drones, regardless of their origin. We need targeted tax breaks and government grants to support American drone manufacturers catering to the needs of our farmers. It is crucial for America to take the lead in setting international security standards for agricultural drones, enabling us to influence the entire market and safeguard our security interests. Rather than harming American jobs in rural communities and U.S. farmers, please oppose anything in the Senate resembling H.R. 2864.
For the Agriculture Teachers and Student
Please oppose anything in the Senate resembling the Countering CCP Drones Act, H.R. 2864, and any attempts to include it in the 2025 NDAA. This comprehensive ban would negatively impact farmers and agricultural teachers and students like myself who currently use DJI drones in our school to learn about precision agriculture, which is transforming the future of farming, particularly for my generation. DJI is the world's most popular drone manufacturer, and by opposing it, you are not enhancing U.S. security but rather limiting the ability for American farmers to compete globally. Our generation deserves access to the best technology to improve crop yields; anything less is unacceptable.
This bill would personally affect me as I am an agricultural student learning how to map fields for crop health and creating my career path. Instead of imposing bans, we should establish robust data security standards for all agricultural drones, regardless of their origin. We need targeted tax breaks and government grants to support American drone manufacturers that cater to the needs of our farmers. The United States should take the lead in setting international security standards for agricultural drones, allowing us to shape the entire market and safeguard our security interests.
Rather than harming American jobs in rural communities and U.S. farmers, please oppose anything in the Senate resembling H.R. 2864.
For the First Responder
Please oppose anything in the Senate resembling the Countering CCP Drones Act, H.R. 2864, and any attempts to include it in the 2025 NDAA. This broad ban would impact military personnel and put the safety and livelihood of communities across America at risk. The Countering CCP Drone Act is harmful because it fails to consider the immediate operational needs of public safety agencies, compromising their ability to respond effectively to emergencies. Relying solely on unproven alternatives to established Chinese drone technology is impractical and unsafe. In simple terms, we have not yet reached parity with China.
I stand with the over 800 first responders who have sent letters to the Senate Armed Services Committee. Instead of imposing bans, we should establish strong data security standards for all agricultural drones, regardless of origin. We need to provide targeted tax breaks and government grants to support American drone manufacturers and address the needs of our community safety. America should take the lead in setting international security standards for drones, which would allow us to influence the entire market and protect our security interests.
Rather than hurt American communities, and put first responder at risk, please oppose anything in the Senate resembling H.R. 2864.
For the Hobbiest
I want to express my opposition to anything in the Senate resembling the Countering CCP Drones Act, HR 2864, and urge you not to include it in the 2025 NDAA. This proposed ban would affect many Americans, including myself, who use drones for various purposes such as recreation, agriculture, research, business, and public safety. This ban could prevent new products from the world's most popular drone manufacturer from entering the market. It could also lead to the removal of FCC authorizations for drones that are currently in use.
There are currently 516,840 DJI drones flying in the U.S., which are utilized by thousands of small businesses. As a drone user, this bill would directly impact me because there are currently no American-made drone options available to replace the drones I currently use. Instead of imposing bans, I believe we should establish strict data security standards for all agricultural drones, regardless of their origin. Additionally, we need targeted tax breaks and government grants to support American drone manufacturers that cater to the needs of our farmers. It is essential for the U.S. to take the lead in setting international security standards for all drone applications, allowing us to influence the entire market and protect our security interests. I strongly believe that opposing anything in the Senate resembling H.R. 2864 is crucial. It is important to avoid harming American jobs and businesses in the U.S.
For Sports and Entertainment
Please oppose anything in the Senate resembling the Countering CCP Drones Act, H.R. 2864, and any efforts to add it to the 2025 NDAA. This proposed ban would have a significant impact on the production of sports and movies. The leading drone manufacturer in the world has achieved its position due to the quality and value of its products. It is important for American movies and sports to have access to the best available technology, which is currently provided by DJI drones.
If this bill passes, it would negatively affect me personally and the entire movie and sports industries, as there are no viable American-made drone options to replace the current ones. Instead of imposing bans, we should focus on establishing strong data security standards for all agricultural drones, irrespective of their origin. Additionally, we should consider providing targeted tax incentives and government grants to support American drone manufacturers that cater to the needs of sports and entertainment. It's important for the United States to take the lead in developing international security standards for all drones, allowing us to influence the global market and safeguard our security interests.
For Concerned Citizen
Please oppose anything in the Senate resembling the Countering CCP Drones Act, H.R. 2864, and any attempts to include it in the 2025 NDAA. This far-reaching ban would severely impact major industries. The company that has been specifically named is the world's most popular drone manufacturer. By opposing this bill, we are not just increasing U.S. security, but also preserving the ability for Americans to compete on an equal footing in the world. This technology has significantly improved our daily lives, made our work environments safer, and elevated entertainment and sports to new levels.
The bill would hurt everyone by restricting our ability to utilize cutting-edge technology. Since there are no American-made drone options available, replacing current drones is not a feasible solution. Instead of imposing bans, we should establish robust data security standards for all agricultural drones, regardless of their origin. We need targeted tax breaks and government grants to support American drone manufacturers, addressing the needs of all who use this technology. As a country, America should take the lead in establishing international security standards for drones, allowing us to influence the entire market and safeguard our security interests.
Rather than hurt American jobs we can do better, Congress can do better, please oppose anything in the Senate resembling H.R. 2864.
A Review of the Issue
What is the Countering CCP Drones Act, and What Does it Mean for DJI Drones?
June 6, 2024 by Miriam McNabb
The Countering CCP Drones Act, introduced by NY Representative Elise Stefanik, could effectively limit the use of Chinese-manufactured drones in the United States: and may be voted upon this month. (Stefanik also recently introduced the Drones for First Responders Act, a separate bill which calls for banning the import of drones from China after 5 years.)
Understanding the Countering CCP Drones Act: A Legislative Overview
The Countering CCP Drones Act, introduced by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, focuses on the inclusion of DJI Technologies’ equipment and services in a list of covered communications equipment that pose national security risks, in accordance with the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. This move is part of a broader effort to secure U.S. communications networks. Adding DJI to the list could prevent the company from accessing spectrum for the communications and control of their drones.
DJI Technologies, based in China, is the largest drone manufacturer in the world: their market share has been estimated at between 65% and 90% of the world’s fleet. DJI has faced increasing pressure from the U.S. government over national security and data privacy concerns. In the first half of 2024, several federal and state legislation proposals have been introduced to limit the use of Chinese-manufactured drone technology, while encouraging the use of domestically produced equipment to support the U.S. manufacturing sector.
The Countering CCP Drones Act could be decided upon shortly. The U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee has included the Countering CCP Drones Act in their draft of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a significant defense policy bill. The Senate Committee will review the NDAA on June 12.
Why is Congress Considering the Act?
As geopolitical tensions mount around the world, the US has been working to lessen reliance on Chinese-made technology, in what some observers call the “Huawei effect.” This refers to digital communications giant Huawei, whose products were banned in the US in 2012 due to security concerns, and who was added to the US “entity” list in 2019. (DJI was placed on the US “entity” list in 2020.)
Additionally, incidents unrelated to drones or DJI have led to rising fears of Chinese government-backed hacking campaigns. A bulletin produced by the FBI and CISA stated: “The use of Chinese-manufactured UAS in critical infrastructure operations risks exposing sensitive information to PRC authorities, jeopardizing U.S. national security, economic security, and public health and safety.” The bulletin was issued in the same month as US authorities announced that they had dismantled “Volt Typhoon,” a China-backed hacking operation targeting critical infrastructure through infecting routers and IoT devices with malware.
Chinese companies are required by China’s law to allow government access to their servers and systems upon request, leading to concerns that DJI could be compelled to share data with the CCP in the future, if geopolitical pressures warranted. Some engineers also fear that signing in and authenticating through the flight control systems and other platform components could provide an entry point for hackers to access US companies.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who introduced the bill, says: “The advancement of my bipartisan bills, the Countering CCP Drones Act and the FACT Act is a win for America’s national security and a win for Americans whose data and critical infrastructure has been collected and monitored by our adversary Communist China. Congress must use every tool at our disposal to stop Communist China’s monopolistic control over the drone market and telecommunications infrastructure and build up America’s industrial capacity.”
Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the CCP, Raja Krishnamoorthi, commented: “Based on DJI’s ties to the CCP, the Administration has shown that DJI is a threat to our national security and has already placed the company on multiple government entity lists. Our legislation will further protect our communications equipment while strengthening American supply chains by ensuring foreign-manufactured technologies that pose serious security threats, such as DJI’s, cannot operate in American networks.”
DJI’s Response to the Act
DJI Technologies has defended their investments in security and data protection repeatedly, emphasizing the fact that users can choose to operate in secure mode and not share data. DJI responded to the proposed legislation on their company blog.
“This legislation aims to block new DJI products from entering the U.S. market, and could also lead to the revocation of their existing FCC authorizations. If this passes, U.S. operators would no longer be able to access new DJI drones, and their existing drone fleets may even need to be grounded.
This act damages not just DJI, but also the broad ecosystem of operators, businesses and public safety agencies that rely on their technologies to conduct safe and efficient operations.
The lawmakers driving this legislation continue to reference inaccurate and unsubstantiated allegations regarding DJI’s operations, and have amplified xenophobic narratives in a quest to support local drone manufacturers and eliminate market competition.”
Impact on DJI and U.S. Operators
If enacted, the legislation could prevent new DJI products from entering the U.S. market and potentially revoke existing FCC authorizations for their equipment. This could impact U.S. operators who rely on DJI drones, possibly requiring them to ground their existing fleets and seek alternative technologies, many of which are more expensive. In a recent NY Times article, DroneAnalyst David Benowitz estimated that 58% of US drone operators are currently using DJI drones. Additionally, many ecosystem players rely upon existing integration with DJI drones for their businesses.
The Drone Advocacy Alliance strongly opposes the bill, stating: “Put bluntly, this bill would have a massive negative impact on millions of Americans who use these [DJI] drones for public safety, commercially and recreationally. It would hamper public safety efforts, putting lives on the line, and drastically reduce the drone market, leading to rising costs and product shortages for all users.”
In recent Congressional testimony, Michael Robbins, President of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicles and Systems International, AUVSI, called for a balanced approach that would protect existing drone programs while funding development for US drone manufacturing:
AUVSI believes that we must move away from being reliant on Chinese companies and intellectual property for our drones, as the U.S. is doing with other critical technologies. A reasonable, common-sense transition is required to ensure that these critical lifesaving tools are available to public safety, while at the same time we move rapidly to diversify manufacturing and technology supply lines outside of China.
If passed, there is no doubt that the Countering CCP Drones Act will have a significant impact on the US drone industry.