The Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) believes that China is spying on Americans with DJI drones. In a memo released in August, they claim that drones are collecting sensitive data and sharing it with the Chinese government.  The memo particularly states that the DJI is targeting law enforcement and military infrastructures in America. They claim that the data being collected will enable China to have intimate knowledge of our infrastructures.

DJI has flat out denied these claims.  They refuted the accusations and told the Times that the memo is based on false and misleading information with no facts. Their objections to the allegations were unreserved and they asked the ICE to withdraw these claims.  Those who believe ICE might expect that DJI’s denial is exactly what a Chinese puppet company would say, but then again the ICE memo made some truly bizarre claims.

The homeland security investigators claim that the DJI is targeting certain sectors in the United States with the intention of exploiting the data gathered. So the question remains, is it a conspiracy or simply unsupported accusations? The conspiracy according to Homeland Security goes very deep. In a recent survey of a California vineyard, DJI drones were used to monitor grape production. Soon after, Chinese companies purchased vineyards in the same area. It looked like the data supplied by the DJI was used in the decision to purchase the land.

But no matter how preposterous we see this accusation, we can all agree that the data collected by drones can potentially be used by hostile entities who could coordinate an attack against the US. However, this can be said of many modern technologies like cell phones, fitness trackers, smartwatches and other mobile devices.

DJI insists that their products and customers have full control of the data that is recorded.  It is preposterous and kind of ‘Trumpian’ to suggest that the DJI could be selling data to the Chinese government. The public must know that even though Homeland’s Security Investigations released this memo, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is based on the truth.

It has been several months since it was released.  There is no sign that DJI drones have been banned or if the FBI has launched an investigation into the memo.  Even though the conspiracy theory was not backed up by any facts, the DJI still have some work to do in managing their reputation.