DJI's Legal Troubles: Loses Lawsuit Over 'Chinese Military' Tag
So, DJI, the drone giant, just lost its lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DoD). It all started almost a year ago when the DoD tagged DJI as a "Chinese military company." Now, a judge has sided with the DoD, saying they provided sufficient proof that DJI's tech contributes to the Chinese military. I mean, even DJI admits its tech *can* be used in military conflicts, but they claim their policies prohibit it. The judge basically said, "Doesn't matter what your policies are; the tech has military applications."
DJI has been fighting this designation since October of last year, arguing that they aren't owned or controlled by the Chinese military. They also claimed that the designation is causing them serious financial and reputational damage. It's understandable since being on that list can block access to grants, contracts, and other programs. It's like being blacklisted, only on a governmental level.
This isn't the first time DJI has clashed with the US government. In 2020, the Department of Commerce added them to the Entity List, which basically stops US businesses from working with them. Then, a year later, the Treasury Department put them on the "Chinese military-industrial complex companies" list, accusing them of being involved in the surveillance of Uyghur Muslims in China. The situation escalated even further last year when US customs started holding up DJI's consumer drones at the border. As if all that wasn't enough, DJI is now facing a potential import ban in the US by the end of this year. The ban was initially set for 2024, but a clause in the US Defense Bill gave them a year to prove their products aren't a national security risk.
DJI's Plea
Back in March, DJI even begged five national security agencies (DHS, DoD, FBI, NSA, and ODNI) to start evaluating their products ASAP. It seems they're trying everything they can to avoid this import ban. It's a complicated situation, and I can see both sides. On one hand, national security is paramount, and if there's a risk, it needs to be addressed. On the other hand, DJI is a major player in the drone market, and a ban could have significant consequences for consumers and the industry as a whole.
Source: Engadget