DJI ban: What happens to the drone I already own?
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Ishveena Singh
| Jun 12 2024 - 11:17 pm PT
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dji drone ban us existing fleet bought current
With Congress only hours away from deciding tech giant DJI’s future in the United States, here’s what the “Countering CCP Drones Act” (HR 2864) means for the drones you already have.

Update: DJI ban passes House and moves on to Senate.
HR 2864 requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to add DJI to its “Covered List.” If DJI is added to this list, the FCC would no longer be able to approve new equipment authorizations for DJI products or software in the US. The agency could also create a process to revoke existing authorizations.
This means no new DJI products would be approved in the US going forward, cutting you off all the latest innovations by the company. And the DJI drones currently approved for the US may also be grounded in the future. The bill could also add any software capable of operating on DJI products to the Covered List, including software produced by US software developers, subjecting them to the same restrictions.
That said, it’s important to note that the “Countering CCP Drones Act” is not likely to have an immediate impact on your current drone fleet and the software you use. However, we cannot ignore the fact that the FCC has the power to create a process to revoke the equipment authorizations for your existing drone models in the future.
Read: DJI Air 3 drone combos are 20% off right now
As per the proposed legislation, the federal government could decide at any point that you are no longer allowed to fly the DJI drones or software that runs on DJI drones you have already purchased, no matter if you are flying for business, public safety, or even recreationally.
The drone maker estimates that the financial impact of such a ban could be as high as $116 billion. Cutting the leading manufacturer out of the drone market would also lead to rising costs and product shortages for all users. It also takes a life-saving tool out of the hands of first responders, putting lives on the line.
Many American developers have built entire businesses on the ability to run their software on DJI drones and serve customers flying DJI drones. A ban on DJI would criminalize US free enterprise and their decision to make software for the most commonly used drones on the market, hurting US competitiveness and domestic innovation through no fault of their own.
Why is this happening? The legislative push appears to stem from a combination of fear-mongering and misinformation regarding DJI’s security protocols and operational practices. These concerns are being exacerbated by the prevailing geopolitical climate and efforts to stifle competition in the market.