FCC Places Ban on New Foreign-Made Drones and Critical Components The Federal Communications Commission has taken a significant step to restrict the import of foreign-made drones into the United States. The agency has added unmanned aircraft systems and their critical components to its official Covered List, effectively prohibiting their future importation on national security grounds. In a public notice, the FCC stated that several U.S. national security agencies determined that drones and parts produced in foreign countries pose an unacceptable risk. The agency emphasized that these systems must now be produced within the United States. The FCC highlighted the dual-use nature of drone technology, noting that commercial platforms can also function as potential military sensors or weapons. It expressed specific concerns that foreign-produced drones, along with components like data transmission devices, flight controllers, navigation systems, and batteries, could enable persistent surveillance, data theft, and destructive operations over U.S. territory. The notice pointed to major events like the World Cup and the Olympics as potential targets. FCC Chair Brendan Carr provided clarification on the social media platform X, stating the ban applies on a going-forward basis. It does not affect drones already owned by consumers or models previously approved for sale by retailers. The new rule specifically targets upcoming models not yet certified. Carr also noted that exceptions can be made. The Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security retains the authority to grant approval for specific new drone models, certain classes of drones, or particular components to be sold within the U.S. While the FCC did not name any specific manufacturers, the Chinese company DJI is widely understood to be the most prominent brand affected by this decision. DJI expressed disappointment in response to the announcement. A company spokesperson stated that while DJI was not singled out by name, no information has been released regarding the evidence used by the Executive Branch to reach its determination. DJI has been under scrutiny from U.S. authorities for years and has repeatedly sought to demonstrate that its products do not constitute a national security threat. The company argued that its products are among the safest and most secure available, citing years of reviews by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties. DJI characterized the concerns as protectionism lacking evidentiary support and contrary to open market principles. This action represents a major escalation in the ongoing U.S. effort to limit the use of Chinese-made technology in sensitive sectors, extending a policy approach previously applied to telecommunications equipment to the rapidly growing commercial and consumer drone market.
