- Jul 22, 2014
- 2,525
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has sent out a memo to US law enforcement and private businesses warning that Chinese drone maker Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) has been spying on the US at the behest of China.
The DHS sent out the memo this summer, on August 9, 2017. In the memo, officials assessed "with moderate confidence that Chinese-based company DJI Science and Technology is providing U.S. critical infrastructure and law enforcement data to the Chinese government."
DHS: DJI sends critical US data to Chinese servers
Officials say that DJI drones come with Android applications that collect information such as usernames, emails, full names, phone numbers, recorded images, recorded videos, facial recognition data, and other. The DHS has a problem with the fact that the apps automatically upload this data to servers located in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, "to which the Chinese government most likely has access."
Chinese laws force Chinese companies to collect data on Chinese citizens and provide the government with easy access to this data at any time. The DHS is worried that because this data is stored on Chinese servers, the Chinese government could abuse its influence over DJI and access the information collected from US customers.
The Agency believes troves of data detailing critical US infrastructure and operations has now been sent to China. The memo points out that several US companies and law enforcement agencies have bought DJI drones and have deployed them for various operations such as mapping land, inspecting infrastructure, conducting surveillance, and monitoring hazardous materials.
In addition, based on information the DHS has obtained, DJI drones have been used to "capture close-up imagery and GPS information on water systems, rail systems, hazardous material storage systems, first responders' activity, and construction of highways, bridges, and rails."
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The DHS sent out the memo this summer, on August 9, 2017. In the memo, officials assessed "with moderate confidence that Chinese-based company DJI Science and Technology is providing U.S. critical infrastructure and law enforcement data to the Chinese government."
DHS: DJI sends critical US data to Chinese servers
Officials say that DJI drones come with Android applications that collect information such as usernames, emails, full names, phone numbers, recorded images, recorded videos, facial recognition data, and other. The DHS has a problem with the fact that the apps automatically upload this data to servers located in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, "to which the Chinese government most likely has access."
Chinese laws force Chinese companies to collect data on Chinese citizens and provide the government with easy access to this data at any time. The DHS is worried that because this data is stored on Chinese servers, the Chinese government could abuse its influence over DJI and access the information collected from US customers.
The Agency believes troves of data detailing critical US infrastructure and operations has now been sent to China. The memo points out that several US companies and law enforcement agencies have bought DJI drones and have deployed them for various operations such as mapping land, inspecting infrastructure, conducting surveillance, and monitoring hazardous materials.
In addition, based on information the DHS has obtained, DJI drones have been used to "capture close-up imagery and GPS information on water systems, rail systems, hazardous material storage systems, first responders' activity, and construction of highways, bridges, and rails."
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