Drone Manufacturer Responds to Claims of Political Motivation

Mega drone manufacturer DJI recently decided to remove drone geofencing, allowing users to fly their drones over potentially dangerous areas. Though rumors of the update being politically motivated have been swirling, DJI argues that the timing was purely coincidental.

China-based drone manufacturer DJI announced the firmware update on January 13. It changes what were previously Restricted ‘No Fly’ Zones on its drones’ geofencing systems into Enhanced Warning Zones. This means that the responsibility to avoid flight restrictions, including over the US Capitol, wildfires, and airports, now falls purely on each drone pilot instead of automatic GPS blocks.

DJI expressed that the geofencing removal merely places “control back in the hands of the drone operators, in line with regulatory principles of the operator bearing final responsibility.” It aims to better align with new FAA drone regulations like Remote ID and Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC).

“We had planned to roll this update in the US months ago but delayed the implementation to ensure the update would work properly,” the manufacturer stated.

Whether or not this is true, the company’s timing could’ve been better. The decision comes just a few days after one of DJI’s drones collided with a “Super Scooper” water bomber over the Palisades Fire. The drone pilot responsible is yet to be found.

Many have also speculated that the update was related to political quarrels, with a bill being introduced in late 2024 to ban new DJI drones. Though the legislation did not make it into the 2025 NDAA, DJI and other Chinese drone manufacturers are still under fire from the US Department of Commerce for potential security concerns.

“Politics does not drive safety decisions at DJI,” the company confirmed in a blog post. “To suggest that this update is linked to the current political environment in the US is not only false but also dangerous.”

FMI: www.dji.com