Should we be concerned as well...US army wants to ban DJI Drones due to safety concerns.

SafariMan · Aug 4, 2017

US Army calls for units to discontinue use of DJI equipment - sUAS News - The Business of Drones

So if this is disturbing for the US Army to go to the point to ground all DJI drones, my question to you and the mods is...should we be concerned as well.

We know that DJI is gathering a lot of data...

I will do my best on my side to stay clear from that data mining. Will be interesting to see DJI response on that matter.

Fly safe and be safe!

4wd · Aug 4, 2017

You would think it not beyond them to modify things so their drones don''t even connect to internet.
Even I can do that for free.

SafariMan · Aug 4, 2017

Yeah, you would think. Or they have much greater concerns that we don't know yet...

WolfgangStiller · Aug 4, 2017

It would be really nice to know why this was issued. It could be something as simple as a higher up who doesn't trust anything internet connect or perhaps any Chinese software. I really wish we had some specifics.

Dan · Aug 4, 2017

We'll someone even bigger got pissed off at the last DJI GO 4 software/firmware update.

RaRaRasputin · Aug 4, 2017

Most likely they updated the firmware and this bad boy fell out the sky

moleza · Aug 4, 2017

If Google quit their operations in China because exploits and control of sensitive users information, what do you think happens to a Chinese company?

Lon Denard · Aug 4, 2017

No, no, no DJI is only doing this for our safety and the best interests of the drone industry.

Ping^Spike · Aug 4, 2017

moleza said:
If Google quit their operations in China because exploits and control of sensitive users information

And I hear Apple pulled a load of VPN apps from the China app store this week too?

FlyGuy8675309 · Aug 4, 2017

Ping^Spike said:
And I hear Apple pulled a load of VPN apps from the China app store this week too?

Not related at all. Apple pulled the VPN apps because they violate China law.

RE: The military ban. I wouldn't expect a product that is "prosumer" (at best) to be up to military security specs. Why the Army is using them is beyond me. It would be like using Fisher Price walkie-talkies and "suddenly" realizing they're not secure.

Anyway, I'm not too concerned over the Chinese, or anyone else for that matter, spying on me. I say "Enjoy the show!".

MAVICPILOT13 · Aug 4, 2017

China is secretly sneaking in malware via Drones! Tonight at 5: Those Drones you already hate? We found ANOTHER reason to hate them!!!

I wish my Mavic was a spying device. That would mean it was carefully built to perform instead of quickly assembled for mass market. Remember, when you buy a Mavic, make sure to ask for the ESPIONAGE models. Top Notch build quality!

Lon Denard · Aug 4, 2017

FlyGuy8675309 said:
Not related at all. Apple pulled the VPN apps because they violate China law.

RE: The military ban. I wouldn't expect a product that is "prosumer" (at best) to be up to military security specs. Why the Army is using them is beyond me. It would be like using Fisher Price walkie-talkies and "suddenly" realizing they're not secure.

Anyway, I'm not too concerned over the Chinese, or anyone else for that matter, spying on me. I say "Enjoy the show!".

I'm not sure what DJI products they were using. DJI makes better drones than the units we fly. Although, I would have appreciated a Mavic in Iraq!

Lon Denard · Aug 4, 2017

What I really want to know is where they're going to sell those puppies! If I know the military, they will be top of the line units for sure!

Londroner · Aug 4, 2017

MAVICPILOT13 said:
I wish my Mavic was a spying device. That would mean it was carefully built to perform instead of quickly assembled for mass market. Remember, when you buy a Mavic, make sure to ask for the ESPIONAGE models. Top Notch build quality!

I tried but the shop only had the older Cloak and Dagger model left - comes with a bottle of invisible ink and the manual on a microdot. However, I have noticed a strange black car outside my house since I ordered the drone. Should I be worried?

Lon Denard · Aug 4, 2017

Londroner said:
I tried but the shop only had the older Cloak and Dagger model left - comes with a bottle of invisible ink and the manual on a microdot. However, I have noticed a strange black car outside my house since I ordered the drone. Should I be worried?

Since you live near the most surveilled city in the world, you should be quite used to being watched.

pgitug · Aug 4, 2017

DJI gets into your phone and has access to everything in it. If that bothers you you better get a stand alone flight phone. The US military is not going to stand with their pants down around their ankles.
[emoji631]

Lon Denard · Aug 4, 2017

pgitug said:
DJI gets into your phone and has access to everything in it. If that bothers you you better get a stand alone flight phone. The US military is not going to stand with their pants down around their ankles.
[emoji631]

Well maybe the Navy....

Mickeyboo · Aug 4, 2017

DJI monitors the activity and content of every drone launched...that's why the Army and Navy are objecting and so do I as a photojournalist...I don't want them monitoring when I'm flying particularly in foreign countries on assignments...they have no need to examine the content I gather...I'm glad someone with the clout of the US Army and Navy has issued this decree...several of us have been quite angry about DJI's practices for months.

Lon Denard · Aug 5, 2017

Mickeyboo said:
DJI monitors the activity and content of every drone launched...that's why the Army and Navy are objecting and so do I as a photojournalist...I don't want them monitoring when I'm flying particularly in foreign countries on assignments...they have no need to examine the content I gather...I'm glad someone with the clout of the US Army and Navy has issued this decree...several of us have been quite angry about DJI's practices for months.

Well, I'm here to tell you that a lot of guys here will tell you how wrong you are to feel that way!