alt Hacker NewsAh yes I'm sure it has nothing to do with the drones running closed proprietary software via OTA updates, with encrypted data connections back to China, while being outfitted with 8k cameras, gps, lidar, etc.
Replies
johnmaguire • yesterday at 5:03 PM
Reading the article, it actually doesn't. Many US-made drones are also banned.
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CursedSilicon • yesterday at 5:11 PM
Yes. This administration obviously cares more about
checks notes
software privacy than political disobedience
skeeter2020 • yesterday at 6:30 PM
Your tinfoil hat narrative doesn't really jive with DJI asking for audit and review more than a year ago, with no one in the federal government actually stepping up before just outright banning things they either don't want or don't understand.
Much like the TikTok ban this seems like something that could be handled through actually regulating what tech companies are allowed to do, rather than just picking on specific products and saying ‘stop that, it’s making us nervous’.
Federal laws about data collection and retention, export, and algorithmic usage… as well as laws about software update channels for hardware devices, eg requiring that it be possible to replace firmware yourself… all sorts of regulations could be put in place that leave the software and hardware markets open, by making it clear where the boundaries are. If DJI or TikTok are doing something bad, prosecute and fine them and enjoin them from doing it again… but make it clear what specific behavior you have a problem with.