And there’s more.
Specific Precedent: U.S. Army Ban on DJI Drones (2017)
In 2017, the U.S. Army banned DJI drones across all military operations due to cyber vulnerabilities and concerns over unauthorized data transmission. The drones were found capable of collecting sensitive data—like flight paths and video footage—and transmitting it to servers outside the U.S., raising fears of espionage. The Department of Homeland Security later confirmed these risks, warning that Chinese-made drones were sending data back to China.
How DJI Drones Transmit Data
- Wi-Fi or Cellular Connections: Real-time data transfer over networks.
- Encrypted Channels: Mask unauthorized transmissions.
- Delayed Uploads: Store data locally, upload later.
- Cloud Sync: Syncs flight logs and footage, potentially routing to Chinese servers.
- Telemetry & Metadata: Transmits GPS locations and altitudes.
- Bluetooth Transfers: Connects to nearby devices for local network access.
The Risks
These drones make it alarmingly easy to transmit sensitive data without user awareness. As one soldier joked, “Keep it up, and the next thing we’ll see is our ops streaming on TikTok.” It’s funny—until it isn’t.