US warns of threat from Chinese drone companies

[Homer J Simpson]

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48352271

[Stray Electron]

   So the US's concern isn't that the owners of the drones could misuse data from them but that the manufacturers will have data sent directly back to them and that they could misuse it.   Interesting!  But what about the Internet ready refrigerators, door locks, TVs and zillion other "Internet Ready" devices made in China and sold in the US?  IIRC there's already been one stuff animal that was taken off of the market in the US after they were found to be "phoning home".

[magic]

But what about the Internet ready refrigerators, door locks, TVs and zillion other "Internet Ready" devices made in China and sold in the US?

Same problem with them in general and not just the Chinese ones.

As for the reason why they are singling out drones, I think you have your answer here:

In August 2017, the US Army prohibited troops from using DJI's drones because of unspecified cyber-security concerns.

Last week, a report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials highlighted that all 50 of the US's states were now using drones in some official capacity and that 36 employed certified drone pilots.

Government doesn't like to share its data when it's spying

[techman-001]

   So the US's concern isn't that the owners of the drones could misuse data from them but that the manufacturers will have data sent directly back to them and that they could misuse it.   Interesting!  But what about the Internet ready refrigerators, door locks, TVs and zillion other "Internet Ready" devices made in China and sold in the US?  IIRC there's already been one stuff animal that was taken off of the market in the US after they were found to be "phoning home".

Remember that little security disaster a decade of so ago when govt spooks were giving away their sooper seekret locations simply by wearing fitness trackers  and many of them jogged from home to work ?

[GlennSprigg]

Do 'Huawei' make 'drones' too !! ??
Maybe the Chinese Government is WiFi monitoring our latest 'Pizza' deliveries Concept !!!!
to take over with a 'Wok-In-A-Box' trial... 

[Kleinstein]

The security thread part could be only political the president does not have to ask congress. 

I have the feeling the thread is more from economic success, driving US drone companies out of the market, so the CIA may have to buy there small drone in China soon, or get poor US quality.