DJI Sues U.S. Over Ban on New Drone Imports

Chinese technology company DJI has filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court seeking to overturn a ban on the import of new drone models.

Reuters reported this news.

The company’s management considers the actions of U.S. Customs and the government unlawful and unfounded.

The manufacturer’s lawyers say U.S. officials have not provided evidence of a national security threat to justify the supply restrictions.

The company stated that the lawsuit responds to a decision by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to block imports of its latest products into the U.S. market.

DJI is asking the court to rule that the agency exceeded its authority and to restore the sale of its equipment.

The ban mainly affects new consumer and commercial models scheduled to reach stores this year.

U.S. regulators suspect the presence of “backdoors” in the software that could allow user data to be transferred to Beijing.

The manufacturer notes that its devices are secure and offers users the option to disable any data transmission through cloud services.

The ban does not apply to drones that have already been purchased and are in use in the country.

The regulator said the measure is aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and U.S. airspace, particularly ahead of major international events in 2026-2028, when the risk of unauthorized drone use may increase.

In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce urged Washington to remove foreign drones from the “Covered List,” calling the decision erroneous and harmful to the legitimate interests of Chinese companies.

Militarnyi previously reported that the U.S. Department of Commerce withdrew a proposed rule that would have introduced additional restrictions on the import of Chinese-made drones.

The initiative was presented in September as part of efforts to protect information and communications technology supply chains from risks associated with Chinese drone manufacturers.