Lawmakers Express Concerns Over Anzu Robotics’ Ties to Chinese Drone Company DJI
Lawmakers in the United States have raised concerns about Anzu Robotics, a US-based drone company, over its ties to DJI, a Chinese military drone firm backed by Beijing. In a letter to Anzu Robotics CEO Randall Warnas, Reps. John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi, chair and ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), expressed their concerns and highlighted security researchers’ findings that Anzu’s Raptor T drone is essentially a DJI Mavic 3 painted green, with its remote control and application running on DJI technology.
The lawmakers pointed out that despite DJI being identified as a security risk by the US government and sanctioned by the Treasury and Commerce departments, Anzu did not disclose its relationship with DJI in its filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). However, after security researchers publicized their findings, both Anzu and DJI acknowledged their partnership.
The lawmakers have requested Anzu Robotics to disclose the terms of its partnership with DJI, as they believe that the partnership is meant to obscure CCP-backed technology entering the United States. They also questioned the nature of the DJI-Anzu relationship, noting that while Anzu claims to be licensing DJI technology, DJI receives no royalties through this licensing. The lawmakers highlighted an Anzu presentation that shows DJI providing “priority technical support” for all Anzu drones.
According to the lawmakers, Anzu’s utilization of DJI software and firmware leaves its products vulnerable to a CCP-based supply chain attack. They demanded Anzu to provide a detailed breakdown of its parts and technologies, as well as their sources, by September 13. The lawmakers have also asked whether Anzu acknowledges that its products are subject to the same restrictions imposed on DJI by the government.
This is not the first time the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has raised concerns about a company serving as a smokescreen for DJI. In a separate letter, the lawmakers asked Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to investigate both Anzu Robotics and Cogito Tech Company for their ties to DJI and the CCP.
In response to the lawmakers’ concerns, Anzu Robotics CEO Randall Warnas stated that there are misunderstandings about how the company operates and complies with the law. However, he did not provide specific details to refute the accusations, but stated that the company is willing to cooperate with the committee to address their concerns.
The concerns raised by the lawmakers highlight the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Chinese drone companies and their ties to the Chinese Communist Party. It is crucial for companies operating in the drone industry to ensure transparency and compliance with regulations to maintain trust and national security. The investigation into Anzu Robotics and Cogito Tech Company will shed further light on the extent of their ties to DJI and the potential risks they pose.
