Lawmakers Call for DOJ Investigation into Advocacy Group Allegedly Funded by Chinese Drone Manufacturer

Lawmakers Call for DOJ Investigation into Advocacy Group Allegedly Funded by Chinese Drone Manufacturer

Two GOP lawmakers, Reps. Elise Stefanik and John Moolenaar, have called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the Drone Advocacy Alliance, an advocacy group allegedly funded by Chinese drone manufacturer DJI, for possible violation of U.S. law. The lawmakers have raised concerns about the group’s alleged lobbying efforts against legislation that would ban Chinese DJI drones in the United States.

In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the lawmakers stated that DJI is sponsoring and using the Drone Advocacy Alliance to market its drones as critical lifesaving tools that do not pose risks to U.S. national security. However, they argue that the opposite is true, claiming that DJI is directly facilitating genocidal crimes, arming the Chinese military, and advancing the strategic objectives of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which poses a threat to U.S. national security.

The lawmakers argue that the Drone Advocacy Alliance should be registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which aims to ensure transparency in the activities of individuals and organizations acting on behalf of foreign governments or political parties. FARA mandates registration with the DOJ and regular disclosure of activities, funding, and expenditures to prevent covert foreign influence in American politics and safeguard national security.

The Drone Advocacy Alliance claims on its website that it is sponsored and maintained by DJI. However, it also states that it does not endorse one drone manufacturer over another and that its partners represent a wide variety of industry stakeholders.

Lawmakers Highlight National Security Risks of CCP-Controlled Drones

The lawmakers pointed out in their letter that CCP-controlled drones pose national security risks. They cited an example from 2017 when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that DJI collected sensitive infrastructure and law enforcement data and provided it to the CCP. They argue that Americans deserve heightened transparency when entities are lobbying Congress and the public to promote a tool that facilitates genocide and arms the Chinese military.

In response to these concerns, Rep. Elise Stefanik introduced the “Drones for First Responders (DFR) Act.” This legislation aims to target Chinese drones by imposing more tariffs on China-made drones and establishing a grant program from tariff revenue to support first responders, critical infrastructure providers, farmers, and ranchers in purchasing secure domestic- and allied-made drones.

DJI’s Scrutiny and Allegations of National Security Threats

DJI is the world’s largest drone manufacturer, with 70 percent of the global market share. However, the company has faced scrutiny from lawmakers and the Biden administration. It has been blacklisted in entity lists from the Departments of Treasury, Commerce, and Defense due to concerns about national security and alleged human rights violations.

In 2020, the Department of Commerce added DJI to its entity list, accusing the company of enabling “wide-scale human rights abuses within China through abusive genetic collection and analysis or high-technology surveillance.” This listing prohibits U.S. firms from exporting their technology to DJI without a U.S. government export license.

Furthermore, the Department of Treasury placed DJI on a list of entities in 2021 for allegedly providing drones used to track and surveil Muslim Uyghur minorities in China’s Xinjiang region. This listing bans Americans from trading DJI stocks.

Recent photos shared on social media showed DJI-modified drones being used by the Chinese military, despite the company’s claim in 2022 that their products are not intended for military use. The Department of Defense currently lists DJI as a Chinese military company, allowing the Department of Commerce to restrict U.S. firms from doing business with or investing in DJI.

In 2017, Homeland Security warned that DJI had targeted U.S. companies in critical infrastructure and law enforcement sectors to market its drones. They also expressed concerns that the Chinese government could be using information acquired from DJI systems to target assets.

Conclusion

The call for a DOJ investigation into the Drone Advocacy Alliance highlights concerns about the influence of Chinese drone manufacturer DJI on U.S. politics and national security. Lawmakers argue that the alliance should be registered under FARA, given its alleged promotion of DJI’s interests. The scrutiny of DJI itself, along with its blacklisting and allegations of national security threats, further supports these concerns. Legislation such as the “Drones for First Responders (DFR) Act” aims to address these issues by targeting Chinese drones and promoting secure domestic alternatives.