The Federal Communications Commission announced it would ban new foreign-made drones, citing national security concerns. (John Lamparski/Getty Images for Concordia Annual Summit)
"Criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland," the FCC said in its notice.
The announcement comes a year after a defense bill was adopted that raised national security concerns about Chinese-made drones, which have been used in farming, mapping, law enforcement and filmmaking.
The bill called for stopping two Chinese companies — DJI and Autel — from selling new drones in the U.S. if a review found they posed a risk to U.S. national security.
A spokesperson for DJI said in a statement that it is "disappointed" by the FCC’s decision and that "no information has been released regarding what information was used" in the government's determination to add its drones and component parts to the covered list.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party said it "strongly supports" the FCC's decision. (Reuters)
Arthur Erickson, chief executive officer and co-founder of the Texas-based drone-making company Hylio, told The Associated Press that the departure of DJI would provide more opportunity for American companies like his to grow. He said new investments are coming in to help him boost production of spray drones, which farmers use to fertilize their fields, and it will bring down prices.
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But Erickson also called it "crazy" and "unexpected" that the FCC would expand the restrictions to all foreign-made drones and their components.
"The way it's written is a blanket statement," Erickson said. "There's a global-allied supply chain. I hope they will clarify that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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