U.S. Interior Department Grounds Drone Fleet

The U.S. Interior Department is grounding its entire drone fleet, the WSJ reported Wednesday. Because all 800+ of its drones were manufactured in China or contain Chinese-made parts, the agency is concerned its fleet might be a national security risk.

Interior uses the drones to fight forest fires, monitor wildlife, take geological/geophysical surveys, and track volcanic activity. It will make exemptions to the no-fly policy for emergencies, natural disasters, or potential life-or-death situations on federal lands.

This could clip the wings of Chinese dronemaker DJI. The company told the WSJ that DJI owners can opt out of connecting to the internet or sending data to DJI servers. It also said the Chinese government has never requested company data and that it would work with U.S. officials on their review.

Zoom out: Whether it's barring Huawei's 5G networking gear or grounding a fleet of drones, U.S. agencies are firewalling themselves from Chinese hardware. They're spooked it could be a conduit for Beijing-directed espionage or cyberattacks.