Sen. Scott pushes FCC to keep Chinese drone makers on security blacklist

U.S. Senator Rick Scott is urging the Federal Communications Commission to maintain Chinese drone manufacturers DJI and Autel on its "Covered List" of communications equipment deemed a national security risk, according to a letter the Florida Republican sent to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Monday.

Scott, who secured passage of the Countering CCP Drones and Supporting Drones for Law Enforcement Act as part of last year's National Defense Authorization Act, argues both companies pose unacceptable security threats through data exfiltration to the Chinese Communist Party and unfair trade practices. "Not only do DJI and Autel present unacceptable national security risks through data exfiltration risks and their support to America's adversaries, but they have also been subsidized by the CCP, enabling them to destroy American manufacturing businesses," Scott wrote.

The senator contends that since 2015, China has flooded global markets with artificially low-priced drones from these manufacturers, driving American competitors out of business and undermining the U.S. drone supply chain. Scott's letter objects to the companies' legal challenges to their placement on the FCC's list, which effectively bans their products from U.S. markets. He has spent years pushing federal agencies to restrict Chinese drone technology from government and military use.