Malcolm Owen
Drone maker DJI is to be added alongside seven other Chinese companies to an investment blacklist by the U.S. Treasury, due to allegedly being involved in surveillance of Uyghur Muslims in China.
Under the direction of the Biden administration, a group of eight companies based in China will be added to the Treasury's "Chinese military-industrial complex companies" blacklist on Thursday, it is claimed. The measure will effectively prevent U.S. investors from investing in the companies, alongside the existing 60 Chinese firms that already exist on the blacklist.
Two people familiar with the matter say that DJI will be added to the list, as well as Megvii and supercomputer manufacturer Dawning Information Industry, reports the Financial Times. It is plausible that DJI's inclusion is due to providing drones for surveillance efforts, which allegedly includes surveilling detention centers in the Xinjiang region.
Facial recognition firm CloudWalk Technology, cybersecurity firm Xiamen Meiya Pico, Ai company Yitu Technology, cloud computing service Leon Technology, and surveillance system producer NetPosa will also be added to the same blacklist.
The new additions are a continuation of measures by the U.S. government against companies aiding China with its repression of Uyghur Muslims and other minorities. The group is already on the "entity list" operated by the Commerce Department, barring U.S. firms from exporting to the firms without first acquiring a government license.
The Commerce Department is also thought to be adding a further 16 groups to the entity list on Thursday.
It is unclear how much of an impact the ban will have on DJI's sales in the United States, as it concerns investments rather than a ban on products. Apple is a retailer of DJI hardware, including its $799 Mavic Air 2 drone.
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103 Comments
Investment ban, but not banning import of their products seems a bit of a half measure or more of a symbolic gesture to me.
I'm an Air 2s owner (pictured drone), though it's for recreational purposes (meaning I have no financial interest in this). Having said that, this ban is pointless political theater. DJI drones are used to surveil Uyghurs? Shocker. I wonder if they will ban investment in the companies that make street surveillance cameras? The fact is that the U.S. government has been saber rattling with DJI for some time, even back to the previous administration. The line has been that they are worried about CCP espionage as the drones could "send information to China." That apparently didn't have legs, so now it's about the drones being used to oppress Uyghurs. I'm sure that will get the CCP to change its ways. I see we're still competing in the Olympics, though...
By the way, for anyone in the market, spend the extra $200 and get the Air 2s instead of the Air 2. The camera is far superior and the range is better. I have the 2s with smart controller and several batteries. Highly recommended.
And turn a blind eye to the atrocities in Palestine. Hypocrisy at its finest.