• 2 min read
FCC moves to block rebranded DJI drones in the US
The FCC wants to ban imports and sales of products it says are re-shelled DJI drones and cameras sold under other brands.
Image: Engadget
The Federal Communications Commission is moving beyond fines and toward an outright ban on products from companies it suspects are selling rebranded or re-shelled DJI drones and cameras in the US.
The agency said products from Cogito, Fikaxo, Lyno Dynamics, Skyhigh Tech, Spatial Hover, SZ Knowact, WaveGo, Xtra and XAG could be barred from import and marketing because they “pose an unacceptable risk” to US national security.
Just a week ago, the FCC had proposed $25,000 fines for those companies after they failed to respond to official inquiries about whether they were marketing products covered by the agency’s Covered List. In December 2025, the commission expanded that list to include all new foreign-made drones and components, banning their import and sale in the United States on national security grounds. DJI was one of the highest-profile companies affected.
DJI previously told Engadget it was disappointed with the FCC’s decision and rejected the agency’s rationale.
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“Data security” concerns about the company “have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market.”
When the FCC announced the December rule, it said the restriction applied only to new models. The latest proposal goes further by targeting “certain previously authorized equipment” that the agency suspects are older DJI products sold in new shells.
According to The Verge, the FCC voted in October 2025 to give itself the authority to retroactively ban devices from companies on the Covered List. This case appears to be the first test of that power.
The commission is now seeking public comments and asked for “specific evidence” related to its conclusion that these companies are selling re-shelled DJI products. It will accept submissions for the next 30 days.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via Engadget
