# Understanding the Countering CCP Drones Act

This bill targets drones and surveillance equipment made by DJI Technologies, a Chinese company, by adding them to a federal "do not buy" list for government and certain private sector purchases. Essentially, it's saying that equipment and services from DJI—which is one of the world's largest drone manufacturers—would be officially classified as a security concern and restricted from use in sensitive communications and surveillance applications in the United States.

The bill works by amending an existing 2019 law called the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, which already maintains a list of equipment and services that the government considers risky to national security. By adding DJI to this list, the company's drones, cameras, and related services would fall under the same restrictions as other banned communications equipment. This means federal agencies couldn't purchase DJI drones, and companies receiving certain government contracts or subsidies would face restrictions on using DJI equipment as well.

The practical impact is that DJI drones—which are popular for everything from photography to agriculture to construction inspections—would become harder to use in government work and potentially in private companies that work with the government. The concern behind this bill centers on data security, with lawmakers worried that DJI equipment could transmit sensitive information back to China. For most everyday consumers buying drones for hobbies, this wouldn't directly affect them, but businesses that rely on government contracts or work in sensitive areas like infrastructure inspection or law enforcement would need to switch to alternative drone manufacturers.

Countering CCP Drones Act

Stefanik, Elise M.

Countering CCP Drones Act This bill requires the inclusion of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Company Limited (a Chinese drone maker commonly known as DJI Technologies) on a list of communications equipment or services determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. Current law prohibits the use of federal funding available through specified FCC programs for purchasing or maintaining listed equipment or services.