Chinese Dronemaker DJI Drops Geofencing Function in US, Raising Security and Airspace Safety Concerns

Published: 2/14/2025, 11:22:36 AM EST

Chinese Dronemaker DJI Drops Geofencing Function in US, Raising Security and Airspace Safety Concerns — A Phantom 4, developed by major Chinese consumer-drone maker DJI, flies during its demonstration flight in Tokyo, on March 3, 2016. (Shizuo Kambayashi/AP Photo)

Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has announced that from Jan. 13, it is removing its geofencing system for drones sold in the United States. Software updates from the company will no longer include a function preventing drones from entering restricted airspace, replacing it with a simpler warning system.

The move means that DJI drones will not block flights over sensitive areas such as airports and military bases. Instead, operators will receive a warning if their drones approach certain “enhanced warning zones.”

In a blog post, the company said the decision places control "back in the hands of the drone operators." However, former DJI policy and legal affairs executive Brendan Schulman expressed concerns about the impact on aviation safety.

"Interesting timing: Ten years almost to the day after a DJI drone infamously crash-lands on the White House lawn, DJI has removed the built-in geofencing feature that automatically impedes such an incident, replacing it with warnings that the user can choose to ignore," Schulman wrote in a post on the social media platform X.

Lai Jianping, chairman of the Canada Branch of the Democracy Party, told NTD that this change poses significant security risks, including damage to critical infrastructure. He added that "without geofencing restrictions, DJI drones could become a considerable threat to U.S. security."

In December 2023, drones flew over Virginia's Langley Air Force Base over several consecutive nights. The incident raised alarms at the Pentagon and led to two weeks of meetings at the White House.

In January 2025, DJI drones disrupted the operations of a Super Scooper firefighting aircraft as it was combatting a wildfire near Los Angeles.

Sheng Xue, a Canadian-Chinese writer, told NTD that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to challenge the security of countries like the United States. She believes DJI drones are part of this effort.

"DJI drones have long been suspected of serving as surveillance tools," Sheng said. "Now, the CCP seems to be speeding up its influence over the United States. This is a major concern."

For years, U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns about DJI drones posing a risk to data transmission, surveillance, and national security. In 2019, Congress banned the Pentagon from purchasing or using drones and components manufactured in China, including those from DJI.

Despite these restrictions, DJI drones still dominate the global market, and the United States remains the company's largest market.

In December 2024, U.S. lawmakers passed the National Defense Authorization Act. It could lead to a ban on new DJI and Autel Robotics drones in the United States.

Chen Shihmin, a political science professor at National Taiwan University, says that DJI has established a strong presence in the U.S. market in recent years. He told NTD that the company now appears to be leveraging its market position to influence U.S. policy and that the CCP is clearly displeased with the U.S. ban on new drones.

Lai said that the cancellation of the geofencing feature likely stemmed from the CCP, stating that "DJI would not have made this move independently." He said that the issue reflects broader diplomatic tensions between China and the United States.

Lai also said that DJI drones and TikTok are not just commercial products or services, but are part of a broader national security challenge from the CCP. He is urging the United States to consider a comprehensive strategy that should include a ban on such technologies.

Chang Chun contributed to this report.