Hot Take: Is security or politics grounding DJI?

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has added the drone manufacturer DJI into its "Covered List," potentially banning new model imports. DJI said the reasoning behind the decision was unclear and the company emphasized its proven safety record.

American professionals in fields like emergency services and agriculture, which heavily rely on DJI's technology, warned that the move would disrupt critical operations and stifle industry growth. This has sparked debate over whether the decision is made out of security concerns or political protectionism aimed at DJI. 

DJI, as a leading company in the trade, dominated roughly 75 percent of the civilian drone market last year.

(Cover image by Huang Ruiqi)