US Government Accountability Office’s Post

🚨 Important Update on DJI Drones in the US! 🚨 Lawmakers are pushing the “Countering CCP Drones Act” which could lead to a ban on DJI drones in the US due to national security concerns. This ban could impact public safety agencies and commercial operations relying on DJI technology. The bill has passed the House and is awaiting Senate approval. Stay informed about the potential changes and their implications! For more details, check out the full article: https://lnkd.in/eM9953D5

The anti drone lobby is something I have mentioned before. In the USA fears over Chinese government exerting control over leading drone manufacturer DJI has been rumbling with a number of states raising concerns along with the Dept. for Homeland Security. Yesterday the “Countering CCP Drones Act.” that was Introduced by Representatives Elise Stefanik (New York)) and Mike Gallagher (Wisconsin), was passed by Congress on its way to potentially becoming law in the USA. DJI has been active in their PR campaign against the Act providing equipment for law enforcement and urging supporters and users of their equipment to lobby their members.   DJI argue that the Act would reduce innovation in the industry.  However, as part of their response to the proposed legislation, DJI has said it plans to modify some of the data-sharing capabilities of their drones, which have been a point of contention in the USA. This side of the Pond there is less evidence of the type of fears shown by the Americans but none the less as members of the sector we should all be aware that drones are not popular in every quarter and that is something most innovative technology has had to deal with on the way to becoming mainstream. What is for sure is this proposed legislation will not be teh last in a series of "battles" to define the drone industry in the coming years and if nothing else that has potential to be good for lawyers. #drones #dronesusa #dronelaw

Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), can provide numerous benefits to law enforcement agencies, assisting police of the nation in various ways. Here are some of the key ways drones can be helpful: https://lnkd.in/dwDwtPQ4

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is in the early stages of testing out a potential task force that would send drones to certain 911 calls before deputies can make it to the scene. To effectively operate the UAS nust securely deliver high-quality live video to commanders. LiveU’s solutions allow you to scale up your situational awareness by adding broadcast-grade live video to your human- and AI-based operations. " Drone as First Responder", is being used in a handful of police departments across the U.S Not just here but across the pond too. In the UK, Drones will be increasingly used as “first responders” when the public report incidents to emergency services, under plans announced by the chancellor in the spring budget on Wednesday. Jeremy Hunt told MPs, £230m would be set aside for police to spend on “time- and money-saving technology” such as unmanned flying vehicles and video technology. The hope is that drones will provide accurate information on the potential scale of an incident reported by a member of the public who has called 911 or 999. #lawenforcement #police #drones #UAS #policing #firstresponders LiveU #commandandcontrol #C2 #leadership #publicorder #crowdcontrol #defense #defence IACP Conference 2024 Boston #UKpolice #US #uav #drones #robotics #AI #sheriff #emergencyresponse CBRNE ATLANTIC BRIDGE (CAB)

Some important considerations especially when flying drones of this size close to people.

The widely discussed and poorly planned CCP act is a shameful piece of legislation that will harm Public safety throughout the country. I am not just the Founder of EagleShield UAS, but also a sworn law enforcement and a member of our PD’s UAS team. We are proudly all DJI drones as they are the best tools on the market for the best price and value. Nothing compares. We have approximately 25 drones from Minis to Avatas to 5-M30’s and both the M300 and M350. We run a DFR Program that is using DJI products. While it would be great if an American company could make a product that is comparable in quality, features and price, it just doesn’t exist. And the current UAS proponents of this legislation have a dog in the fight to push this to attempt a forced increase in their business. It is foolish. Banning DJI does ZERO for cybersecurity. At EagleShield, we are drone agnostic. We don’t care what tools you use to accomplish your mission. We just want you to be able to accomplish it how you choose. However, we do care about one of the primary tools being taken away for nonsensical reasons. We stand with GenPac Drones, Unmanned Vehicle Technologies (UVT) and all police agencies across the country in doing what we can to not have this legislation passed and ruin all the progress agencies have made over the last couple years.

Earlier this year, a police department in Fullerton, California conducted a test exploring the potential benefits of drones acting as first responders. In the 30-day test, drones responded to over 300 calls for service. The results? ⏰ In 11% of calls, drones arrived on the scene before patrol officers, enhancing 'situational awareness'. ✅ 19% of calls were resolved solely by drones, freeing officers for urgent matters. The potential annual cost of the drone program? Less than 1% of what the city spends on its helicopter operations! Drones are paving the path to a brighter, more efficient future in public safety! 🚀 #DroneTech #PublicSafetyInnovation

While nobody advocates for unrestricted use of Chinese drones, it’s essential to address the concerns raised by the Federal government over the past six years. Legislation has been introduced to respond to questionable trade practices and potential national security risks associated with certain systems and technologies. It becomes crucial to explain how these agencies intend to address the implications of the 2017 National Intelligence Law, as well as the actions of DJI in relation to issues such as Uyghur atrocities, Ukrainian atrocities, and Iranian drone factories. Considering the underlying issues related to the Forced Labor Prevention Act, the Chinese National Intelligence Law, and the nature of Chinese tariffs, it may be difficult to comprehend why someone would advocate at the national level for the continued use of systems and technology that are seen as compromising local law enforcement, national security, and data privacy, and are funded by taxpayer dollars.

The use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) by criminal cartels has become a rising source of concern for law enforcement and national security agencies around the world. Cartels have been quick to adopt new technologies, such as drones, to further their criminal activities. The use of drones by Narcos and cartels is particularly prevalent in Mexico along the U.S. Southern Border to smuggle drugs. However, this drug trafficking technique is expanding to other countries in Central and South America. As drone technology advances, so will the sophistication of Cartel drone operations. To confront this growing threat, law enforcement and government organisations must be vigilant and adapt their strategies and procurement to address this evolving threat. In this article, I discuss the use of drones by criminal groups. I explore their different purposes, the actors involved, as well as the most relevant operations using drones. My new article for Grey Dynamics. #Drone #DrugCartel #Intelligence #Narcos

Consumer-grade drones already pose a threat to public safety. Criminals are now using remote-controlled cars and drone boats too. Law enforcement agencies need more tools to combat the misuse of these unmanned systems. Read more in RSIS Commentary "Unmanned Systems: The Threat to Public Safety" by Tan Teck Boon #RSIS #RSIScommentary #Drones #Unmanned