U.S. mulls new restrictions on Chinese drones

Fri Jan 03 02:07:30 UTC 2025: ## US to Consider New Drone Regulations to Counter China, Russia Tech Risks

**Washington, January 3, 2025** – The United States is poised to introduce new regulations targeting the national security risks posed by drones incorporating technology from foreign adversaries, particularly China and Russia. The Commerce Department announced Thursday it is seeking public comment on potential restrictions or bans, citing concerns about these countries’ ability to remotely access and manipulate U.S. drones, potentially compromising sensitive data.

The department’s Bureau of Industry and Security highlighted the dominant market positions of Chinese and Russian companies in the drone technology sector and their willingness to exploit these positions for national interests, including cyber espionage. The upcoming Trump administration will ultimately decide on the new rules.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized the importance of securing the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) supply chain for national security. The public comment period will run until March 4th. This move follows a September ban on connected vehicles using Chinese and Russian technology, also citing national security concerns. Chinese drone manufacturer DJI, a major player in the global market, has been under scrutiny for its alleged involvement in the surveillance of ethnic minorities in China.