Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Congressman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., recently proposed a new legislation, which seeks to add a Chinese drone manufacturer to the Federal Communications Commission Covered List over national security fears.
This act aims to add Chinese drone manufacturer Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) to the FCC Covered List which would prohibit them from operating on U.S. communications infrastructure, according to an April 26 news release from Stefanik's office.
“DJI drones pose the national security threat of TikTok, but with wings," Stefanik said in the release. "The possibility that DJI drones could be equipped to send live imagery of military installations, critical infrastructure and the personal lives of American citizens to China poses too great a threat. Allowing this practice to continue in the U.S. is playing with fire. This Chinese-controlled company cannot be allowed to continue to operate in the U.S."
The proposed legislation aims to prohibit the use of drones produced by DJI due to concerns that Chinese laws may permit the government to exploit the technology for espionage purposes, the release reported. Although DJI is presently not included in the list of restricted companies, the bill proposes to include it.
DJI is responsible for more than 50% of drone sales in the U.S., and they are frequently used by public safety agencies, the release reported. Reports indicate the Chinese government has a stake in DJI's ownership.
“DJI drones pose a serious national security threat and belong nowhere near the federal government," Gallagher said in the release. "The Department of Defense has recognized this and acted accordingly, and now it’s time for Congress and the rest of federal government to follow suit.
"Legislation like my American Security Drone Act helps mitigate the DJI threat by preventing the federal government from procuring these drones, and the Countering CCP Drones Act builds on this effort by preventing these devices from benefiting from Federal Communications Commission subsidies and operating on FCC infrastructure," Gallagher added, according to the release. "Given DJI’s ties to the CCP and their military, as well as its complicity in the CCP’s ongoing genocide, it’s long past time for Congress to take this important action."
The Covered List is updated periodically and identifies specific equipment from specific manufacturers that are deemed "covered" equipment. This list is posted on the commission's website and is published by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, according to the FCC.
