Chinese drone maker DJI, which dominates the global consumer drone market, is taking legal action against the U.S. Department of Defense. The company claims it was wrongly blacklisted as a “Chinese military company,” a designation imposed by Washington in 2022. DJI argues the Pentagon’s classification is flawed, as it manufactures consumer and commercial drones, not military-grade technology. DJI has attempted for over a year to engage with the DoD but is now seeking relief through federal court.
The blacklisting is part of broader U.S. measures aimed at Chinese tech firms over national security concerns, particularly fears that their technologies could be leveraged by Beijing for military purposes. This lawsuit comes amidst heightened scrutiny of Chinese companies in the U.S., with DJI also facing criticism for its alleged role in Chinese surveillance activities and its drones’ usage in the Ukraine war.
