DJI, the Shenzhen, China-based drone maker, controls an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the global drone market. But in recent years, U.S. lawmakers have been moving forward with efforts to effectively ban federal agencies from purchasing or operating Chinese-made drones. U.S. drone pilots have feared that it could make it impossible to get their hands on affordable camera drones. And as it turns out, international drone pilots have the same fears — albeit for different reasons. Fiona Lake, a drone photographer, based in Australia, is one of them.
“If DJI drones are banned in the U.S., it will have a huge impact on the rest of the world,” Lake said in an interview as part of the inaugural Palm Springs Drone Fest 2025. “Not just in terms of availability, but in terms of price and innovation.”
In the U.S., multiple bills circulating could restrict or eliminate DJI drones from American skies entirely. Most of the motivations are rooted in national security, with concerns about potential data vulnerabilities and Chinese government influence. That includes the American Security Drone Act of 2023, which is a bipartisan bill that would prohibit federal agencies from purchasing drones made by Chinese government-linked countries.
But as discussions intensify on Capitol Hill, the global drone community is already bracing for impact. Across Europe, Asia and Australia, photographers, farmers, first responders and filmmakers rely on DJI’s affordable, reliable equipment to do everything from herd cattle to document climate change. In the U.S., DJI drones have become vital tools in industries as varied as construction, agriculture and public safety.
For example, more than 90% of the drones used by first responder agencies in the U.S. were made by DJI, according to data published in 2020 from Bard College’s Center for the Study of the Drone. A critical report from the U.S. Department of the Interior shed light on how it scrambled to replace drones within budget after rules kicked in that it could no longer acquire new DJI drones.
“You spend a lot more money and get a product that’s not nearly as good,” Lake said of the DJI alternatives. “Why would you?”
DJI’s consumer drones like the Mini 4 Pro and Mavic Air series are among the most popular in the U.S., prized for their portability, camera quality and ease of use. They generally cost around $1,000, and often less than that.
Related read: The cheapest DJI drones (that we’d actually recommend)
Yet no domestic alternative has emerged to match DJI’s scale or innovation. American drone manufacturers such as Skydio and Teal have made inroads, especially with government contracts, but the products often come at significantly higher price points, and in some cases lack features that DJI consumers now take for granted.
For Australians like Lake, the knock-on effect of a U.S. ban could ripple far beyond American borders.
“Less DJI revenue means less money for research and development,” she said. “And if there’s less demand in the U.S., models could be discontinued or delayed for the rest of us.”
Even in countries without bans, consumers could see rising prices and reduced access to the newest technology. DJI drones might become harder to source, and software updates could slow if the company is forced to shift priorities.
Ironically, some U.S. consumers have joked they might buy DJI drones overseas to avoid the consequences of a potential ban.
“But good luck finding a retailer with stock if there’s a global rush,” Lake said.
The idea of banning Chinese drones raises deeper questions about technological sovereignty and the practical trade-offs of decoupling from global supply chains. While national security is a legitimate concern, Lake and others warn that sweeping bans could have unintended consequences.
“The global drone industry desperately needs strong competition,” she said. “But you don’t create that by locking one player out. You create inefficiency, and the consumer loses.”
For now, DJI continues to operate in the U.S. as lawmakers debate next steps. But with mounting pressure from both sides of the aisle and growing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing, the future is anything but certain.
“All I want is to keep flying,” Lake said. “But I also want the best tool for the job. Right now, that tool is still DJI.”
Watch the full interview with Lake on video below:
Related
Discover more from The Drone Girl
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
