DJI has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense over its designation as a “Chinese military company,” challenging the assertion that it is owned or controlled by the Chinese military. The company, known as the largest privately owned seller of consumer and commercial drones, stated that the Pentagon’s classification has led to financial and reputational harm, affecting its ability to do business with US and international clients. Despite attempting to engage with the Department of Defense for over 16 months and submitting a delisting petition, DJI claims that the agency has failed to provide adequate reasoning for its designation. The drone-maker is now seeking judicial relief, arguing that the DoD’s actions violate the law and its due-process rights. In addition to its current legal battle with the Pentagon, DJI has faced scrutiny from other US government agencies, including being added to the Department of Commerce’s entity list in 2020.
