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FCC Bans Foreign-Made Drones Over National Security, Spying Concerns (politico.com) 66

Posted by BeauHD from the no-fly-zone dept.
The FCC has banned approval of new foreign-made drones and components, citing "an unacceptable risk" to national security. The move will most heavily impact DJI but it "does not affect drones or drone components that are currently sold in the United States." Reuters reports: The tech was placed on the commission's "Covered List," barring DJI and other foreign drone manufacturers from receiving the FCC's approval to sell new drone models for import or sale in the U.S. In Monday's announcement, the agency said that the move "will reduce the risk of direct [drone] attacks and disruptions, unauthorized surveillance, sensitive data exfiltration and other [drone] threats to the homeland."

FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in a statement that while drones offer the potential to boost public safety and the U.S.' posture on global innovation, "criminals, terrorists and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland."

The ruling comes as China hawks in Congress amplify warnings about the security risks of drones made by DJI, which accounts for more than 90% of the global market share. But efforts to crack down on Capitol Hill have been met with some pushback due to the potential impacts of curbing the drone usage on U.S. businesses and law enforcement. A wide variety of sectors, including construction, energy, agriculture and mining companies, as well as local police and fire departments across the country, deploy DJI-made drones.
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FCC Bans Foreign-Made Drones Over National Security, Spying Concerns More

FCC Bans Foreign-Made Drones Over National Security, Spying Concerns

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  • Not just drones (Score:5, Insightful)

    by NewtonsLaw ( 409638 ) on Monday December 22, 2025 @10:00PM (#65876359)

    It's not just drones that are on the covered list -- its crucial parts of drones that also have other uses.

    For example -- lithium polymer batteries, brushless DC motors, flight controllers, cameras and sensors as well as other stuff.

    For the hobbyist who wants to fly RC planes and go drone-racing this is a disaster. I'm unaware of any (affordable) US-made lithium polymer batteries suitable for these applications and the vast majority of motors, flight controllers and cameras are imported.

    This effectively shuts down the hobby because even if US companies eventually start making this stuff it will almost certainly prohibitively expensive -- beyond the reach of most hobbyists.

    The reality is that this has far less to do with "national security" than it does ensuring that certain people's pockets get lined with cash. For instance -- how does a brushless motor made in the USA pose less of a security risk than one made in China, Germany or Australia? Likewise a plain, simple lithium-polymer battery without any electronics -- what's the security risk that such a product poses?

    The hobby of RC model aircraft and drones was on a count-down to oblivion from the moment the Commerical Drone Alliance convinced politicians to revoke S336, a piece of law that protected the hobby from regulation. The CDA made it very clear that they wanted the skies cleared of pesky hobbyists so they could exploit it for financial gain and now those in power are using the "national security" card to disguise their true agenda. Nobody can complain about a restriction or ban if its saving the lives of American's... right?

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by ArchieBunker ( 132337 )

      But hey the alternative was a woman who laughed. Could you even imagine?

    • Re:Not just drones (Score:4, Insightful)

      by gweihir ( 88907 ) on Monday December 22, 2025 @10:32PM (#65876437)

      I guess the next US administration will have to reverse a ton of really demented decisions.

      • Re:Not just drones (Score:4, Insightful)

        by Hoi Polloi ( 522990 ) on Tuesday December 23, 2025 @12:13AM (#65876577) Journal

        The next admin will be doing nothing but repair.

        • Re:Not just drones (Score:4, Insightful)

          by gweihir ( 88907 ) on Tuesday December 23, 2025 @12:21AM (#65876593)

          Clearly. And then the morons will vote for the other side again because they will have already forgotten who made the mess.

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

          Biden doubled down on some of the trump nonsense.

          He certainly didn't undo nearly enough of it. I don't know what is wrong with the democrats.

          • Re: (Score:3)

            by cusco ( 717999 )

            Terry McAuliffe and the Clintons sold the Party to Wall Street in the '90s for campaign money. No one who isn't a tool of the mega-corps can get a DNC endorsement or any party money today, and if they insist on running they'll be buried under the deluge of propaganda and dirty tricks the Party leadership deploys.

      • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

        by cusco ( 717999 )

        the next US administration

        Optimist. For the first time in my life I'm seriously worried that there might not be a change in administrations in 2028.

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by gweihir ( 88907 )

          That would be bad. Because a coalition like the one that freed Germany from the Nazi regime is not going to happen with nuclear weapons in play. A fascist USA would have to collapse under its own weight. And while that will always happen, it can take a long time.

        • the next US administration

          Optimist. For the first time in my life I'm seriously worried that there might not be a change in administrations in 2028.

          Unfortunately, I have to agree with you. I expect him to declare himself Emperor (only because "king" is not grandiose enough).

      • What makes you think the next admin will not be lead by JD and keeps on doing whatever is going on now?

    • Re:Not just drones (Score:5, Insightful)

      by NewtonsLaw ( 409638 ) on Monday December 22, 2025 @10:53PM (#65876469)

      Something else to consider... Donald Trump Jr has millions of dollars in Unusual Machines [unusualmachines.com] stock and also has a position on the board. UM is one of the companies that stands to benefit hugely from this ban, as commercial drone users are forced to find alternative sources for their equipment.

      Parents like to take care of their children when they can, or so I'm told.

      Also, this isn't a ban on imports from potentially enemy states such as China, it's a ban on imports from *all* countries -- including the USA's closest allies. This is pretty clear proof that the reasons behind this ban are purely financial and that Trump's son reaps a significant amount of that benefit through is stock-holding and position on the board of Unusual Machines.

      The USA has the best government money can buy I guess.

    • The reality is that this has far less to do with "national security" than it does ensuring that certain people's pockets get lined with cash.

      Oh... I imagine it's more about "national security" in the sense of "keeping citizens from tracking what ICE is doing, and who they're doing it to" than lining anyone's pockets. Also "national security" in the sense of "making sure the citizenry don't have things that Ukraine has proved are easily weaponizable if/when there's serious civil disobedience."

    • lithium polymer batteries, brushless DC motors, flight controllers, cameras and sensors as well as other stuff.

      I can (barely) understand controllers being banned over NS concerns. But some one please explain to me how a lithium polymer battery, or a brushless DC motor, or cameras can possible by subverted into a nuclear threat to the fatherland ... errrr country.

    • Once ready to fly drones hit the market the RC hobby industry's exemptions were doomed to be revoked. Too many people treating them as toys and not a serious hobby. It's that simple.

      For decades the RC hobbyists could keep themselves in check, mostly because everyone put effort into building their aircraft or vehicle so it was actually worth something to the owner. Now it's just toys pulled out of a box flying everywhere not really caring that a hobbyist segment earned the right to the exemption.

    • Re:Not just drones (Score:5, Interesting)

      by cusco ( 717999 ) <brian.bixby@gm a i l.com> on Tuesday December 23, 2025 @01:05AM (#65876629)

      Coincidentally (or not) this was just published last week.

      https://kdwalmsley.substack.co... [substack.com]

      Most experts understand though that there is no real vulnerability to any of that—it’s just another example that China owns the supply chain for yet another thing the Pentagon wants to build. Simple components don’t create a high risk of exploitation; the real problem is that the economics don’t work for American companies to bother building them. A drone requires four motors. Chinese motors cost $12 to $25. American drone motors cost $100 to $200. So the cost of the motors for a simple, cheap drone will cost $48 bucks if using made-in-China motors, verses $400 if you want them built in the US.

      ------

      He also goes into the nose dive that Unusual Machines (which the Rump clan is invested in) and Anduril stock is taking, and how useless the US drones show up in actual usage (the Ukrainians actually refuse to fly drones that Anduril donated, they're so bad).

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by iwulinux ( 655433 )

      > how does a brushless motor made in the USA pose less of a security risk than one made in China,

      It doesn't strictly, but you know what does? Not being entirely dependent on a hostile foreign nation for this sort of manufacturing. However ham-fisted this approach may be, I'm ultimately in agreement with the premise. Your drone hobby is not more important than America or the West remaining a going concern.

      • However ham-fisted this approach may be, I'm ultimately in agreement with the premise. Your drone hobby is not more important than America or the West remaining a going concern.

        I'm (barely) old enough to remember when stuff was made in America, and much of it was considered some of the best stuff in the world. I think the US has largely abdicated that role in favor of making antisocial networks, slop generators and increasingly bizarre financial instruments. The US has allowed the rest of the world to eat its lunch in basic manufacturing, by demanding the cheapest stuff possible, the largest corporate profits possible, and people unwilling to develop the necessary skills then wor

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by ip_vjl ( 410654 )

      It's unclear.

      The FCC ban is specifically about denying FCC certification, which would prevent specific items from being imported as they wouldn't have certification.

      But, components like batteries or motors don't require FCC certification anyway, so a lack of certification shouldn't affect those (in theory.) The section in the document about "critical components" that are covered seems like it may have been copied and pasted from another document defining all the components that make up a drone - but didn't

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by DewDude ( 537374 )

      The goal is to ruin the hobby.

      They did this with RC aircraft by trying to require a ham radio license. That didn't work.

      They required FAA approval to cut down on private drone flights. That didn't work.

      Now they've decided to start banning them.

      I got sad news for you; they don't care about your hobbies. At all. They don't.

  • Now go after flock "safety" and all of its ill-conceived and awfully implemented brethren.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1-uiUlHTo/ [youtube.com]

    • How exactly is another system of insecure, network accessible cameras with security implications "off-topic?" Is it because its domestically designed-shit rather than a foreign company? Or are people too simple to see the parallels?

  • Are we tired of winning yet ? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ZombieCatInABox ( 5665338 ) on Monday December 22, 2025 @11:08PM (#65876485)

    First, the banning of all new offshore wind farm projects, for reasons of "national security".

    Now, the banning of all drones made in China.

    If I were paranoid, I would think that the US is preparing for war.

    You wanted a narcissistic child-raping psychopath for president ? You truly believed that, among all the other possible democrat and republican presidential candidates, Trump was the lesser evil ?

    You got what you wanted. You made your bed, now sleep in it.

    • If I were paranoid, I would think that the US is preparing for war.

      If you were paranoid you may make this conclusion, but I'm guessing the reality is far dumber than you think. Ideology and corruption are ones in charge here, not some big brained war games.

  • Drones with cameras and autopiloting systems will of course not be sold by American companies, at least not to civilians. America's police departments of course can freely purchase whatever they want.

  • That's great news for foreign entities, US drones are so much easier to hack to take control over and use the cameras to spy..
  • There is way, way less to it in substance if you look closely. If DJI drones are banned, sorry I meant BANNED MAGA FREEDUUM hashtag ownthelibsletsgobrandon, why can I still buy a DJI drone in the US? Amazing, huh? It’s almost like all this talk doesn’t actually change much on the ground. if I had to guess, this is meant to temporarily manipulate the stock price of one of his families investments.
  • It's the software. Everything could be made in the USA but if the software either purposefully or maliciously sends info out to a remote server then it's not secure.

    Also, I doubt this ban will do much except push people to make homebrew drones from parts and open source projects for the software. That will likely have more positive impact on security than the hardware restrictions since open source stuff is likely talking back to anybody.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by cusco ( 717999 )

      "Homebrew drones from parts" aren't going to be built much using US components. A US-made motor for example costs 4-18 times more than an imported one, and they're less reliable. Now as the cost of rare earth elements and neodymium magnets continues to rise because of restrictions on dual-use materials it's only going to get worse.

  • This seems an awful lot like a bonus to Unusual Machines, and I'm sure it's purely coincidental that Trump Jr. sits on its board.

    Interestingly, if one looks at DJI's web site, one sees pictures of actual drones, some of them flying, and actual normal people using them. If one looks at Unusual Machines, they have a nondescript, possibly AI-generated picture of some drone parts on a table, a bunch of press releases about their partnerships with various military and privacy-rapist organizations, and a special

  • ,,,,am I the only one confused by the FCC, not the FAA, making this decision? That just sounds all kind of wrong to me.

    Drones/UAVs are flying machines and, as such, should be governed by the FAA, not the FCC.

    Now the allocation of frequencies and transmitters used to communicate with drones would fall under the FCC, but not the whole flying machine and what I read is the FCC is banning these flying machines, not the FAA. Perhaps I missed something in the text.

    Then again, given the current administration,

  • Our surveillance state, police departments, ICE, Military etc all get drones from China.

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