Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over its decision to block imports of all its new models and critical components, the company confirmed on Wednesday.
The Shenzhen-headquartered company has submitted a petition to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit seeking to overturn the FCC’s decision to place the company on its Covered List.
According to the FCC, the list identifies communications equipment and services considered to present “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of U.S. persons.”
The company stated that the FCC added DJI to its ‘Covered List’ without providing concrete evidence to support claims that its products pose a risk to national security.
“The decision carelessly restricts DJI’s business in the U.S. and summarily denies U.S. customers access to its latest technology,” the company added.
The ban also extends to Autel, another drone manufacturer based in China. Under the FCC’s December ruling, DJI, Autel, and other foreign drone makers are barred from obtaining the required FCC approval to sell new drone models or critical components in the U.S. However, they are still permitted to sell existing products.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the ban has sparked backlash among nearly half a million certified commercial drone pilots in the U.S.
The report notes that many of these pilots are stockpiling DJI drones and spare parts while appealing to the White House, warning that their businesses—heavily dependent on Chinese-made drones with no Western alternatives—could be at risk.
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