DJI Statement on U.S. Court Ruling Regarding Department of Defense Designation

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia released a decision regarding the Department of Defense’s (DoD) designation of DJI as a “Chinese Military Company.” While the Court disappointingly permitted DoD’s designation of DJI to stand, the Court in so doing made several critical findings confirming DJI’s long-held position that [b]DJI is not controlled by the government and has no ties to the military.[/b]

First, the Court affirmatively rejected most of DOD’s allegations. It found no basis for DoD’s claims that DJI is owned or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, affiliated with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or affiliated with a military-civil fusion enterprise zone.

Second, the Court concluded that just two of DoD’s allegations were not “arbitrary and capricious,” but those limited conclusions in fact further clarify that DJI does not have any military affiliation:

• The Court upheld DoD’s finding that DJI has been recognized as a National Enterprise Technology Center (NETC). As DoD admits, however, that recognition is widely granted to companies with “industry-leading technological innovation capabilities”—including major U.S. Companies—across food, apparel, automotive, and many other industries. It does not suggest any military connection.
• The Court also upheld DoD’s assertion that DJI’s technology has “substantial dual-use applications in military and civilian settings” because, like many other off-the-shelf commercial technologies, it can be misused in military contexts. However, the Court’s opinion did not find any misuse by the Chinese military, a point DJI has repeatedly certified to the public. As a manufacturer, DJI has taken all available measures to prevent its products from being used in combat. It was the first drone company to publicly denounce and actively discourage the combat use of its products, and DJI has never manufactured military equipment or marketed drones for combat. Although the Court ruled that “whether or not DJI’s policies prohibit military use is irrelevant,” DJI will continue to uphold its robust policies prohibiting the military use of its drones.

 DJI remains dedicated to advancing drone technology that benefits society, and we are evaluating avenues available to respond to this ruling. Our focus is, and will continue to be, on empowering creators, businesses, and public safety organizations worldwide with safe, innovative, and accessible technology.