A California state legislator, who introduced a bill to prohibit local law enforcement agencies from purchasing Chinese-made drones, now intends to relax the restrictions in the proposed legislation following opposition from police departments that currently operate such drones?
A bill, proposed by California State Senator Tom Umberg, aimed to prohibit law enforcement agencies from acquiring “military-grade” equipment, including drones, if similar items are restricted from purchase by the US military branches. armed forces.
The legislation aims to prevent law enforcement agencies from acquiring drones and related equipment manufactured in the People’s Republic of China, specifically DJI products. On June 19, Umberg announced the launch of new regulations, stating that existing state legislation allows law enforcement agencies to purchase DJI products despite growing concerns about potential cybersecurity risks.
Earlier this year, it was reported that cybersecurity researchers had uncovered evidence suggesting Beijing might leverage vulnerabilities in a drone control app to gain unauthorized access to substantial amounts of personal data, potentially posing significant risks to users. The Pentagon has effectively prohibited the use of DJI products and other drones manufactured in China.
Legislative Enforcement Response to the Proposed Chinese Drone Ban in California?
Despite this, during a DRONELIFE interview, Umber revealed that following his submission of SB 99, he received concerns from various law enforcement agencies regarding the bill’s potential negative impact on their drone operations. For many California-based law enforcement agencies, DJI products serve as the backbone of their drone programs.
“When law enforcement officials contacted me and entered my home, I believe they may have had legitimate concerns,” Umberg said. “I’m proactively addressing these concerns by implementing measures such as delaying deployment and providing opportunities to purge software containing rogue drones that could inadvertently transmit information to unauthorized locations.”
The law is slated to reconvene for discussion prior to the State Meeting’s Public Security Committee on Tuesday, July 2. Umbreg intends to submit a revised invoice proposal that could concurrently address two key concerns.
The proposed delay could extend the implementation timeline by 2-3 years; meanwhile, police agencies would still be able to utilise their existing DJI equipment, provided they update the software to prevent transmissions except to the police department itself.
According to Umberg, he expects law enforcement agencies that initially raised concerns about his proposal will ultimately accept the compromises he intends to offer.
I think they’ll find them satisfactory. The official does not expect widespread enthusiasm for the task ahead, but emphasizes that it is crucial to ensure the national drone fleet aligns with overarching safety concerns, stating, “I don’t anticipate at any level they’re going to be joyous; however, what we need to do is guarantee that our home fleet of drones is in keeping with our nationwide safety issues.”
Prior to acquiring military equipment, according to current state legislation, law enforcement agencies are mandated to obtain approval from a governing body – specifically, a city council in the case of a municipal police department. Under SB 99, the procurement of military equipment is permissible only if the US Armed Forces have not been explicitly prohibited from acquiring those supplies from a manufacturer or supplier due to applicable federal laws or regulations.
In 2018, the Division of Protection issued a blanket ban on the acquisition and use of all commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) drones, regardless of manufacturer, due to concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities. In the coming year, Congress passed legislation that specifically prohibits the procurement and utilization of drones and components originating from China.
Senator Umberg emphasized the need for nationwide security by proposing legislation to bring state law enforcement agencies in line with Department of Defense requirements, effectively ending the procurement of Chinese-made drones.
Ultimately, law enforcement may be accepting of any legislation we pass, since they will have a stake in its success. “They’re not sending sensitive information, such as classified data, to China’s government.”
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Miriam McNabb serves as Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a leading platform connecting experts in the drone industry. She is an astute observer of the rapidly evolving drone market and its corresponding regulatory landscape. Miriam has authored more than 3,000 articles focused on the business drone sector, establishing herself as a renowned global speaker and thought leader in her field. With a degree from the University of Chicago, Miriam boasts over two decades of experience in high-tech sales and marketing for emerging technologies.
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