At least one Democrat is defending a GOP-led effort to inquire into Chinese-made drones donated to U.S. state and local law enforcement.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas told the Washington Examiner that drones donated by Chinese company Da Jiang Innovations earlier this year seem like a “forced” gift and that recently sent letters to federal agencies requesting information on them by several Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee should be reviewed immediately.
“I think the answers that have been requested to the Department of Justice and to the Department of Homeland Security should be responded to immediately,” Jackson Lee said.
Earlier this year, DJI announced a disaster relief program to help local law enforcement across the United States combat COVID-19 using high-end technology for their operations. The company distributed 100 drones to 45 police, fire, and public safety agencies in 22 states.
Citing cybersecurity concerns, Republicans sent two letters to the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security asking for information on how they are monitoring the drone activity, whether they have issued warnings on them, and which local agencies were given federal dollars to operate or purchase these drones. A May 27 deadline was provided to respond to the letters signed by 14 Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee, including Reps. Matt Gaetz and ranking member Jim Jordan.
“We are aware of the letter and will address it accordingly,” a Justice Department spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. A DHS representative has not returned a request for comment.
Gaetz has been outspoken in his criticism of the drones, calling for the Justice Department to ground them last month. The Florida Republican said he had discussed the drones while at Camp David over the weekend with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
“In my conversations with the chief of staff Mark Meadows, I am comforted that the administration is aware of the threat posed by DJI and the dual-use drone technology,” Gaetz said Monday on his podcast, Hot Takes with Matt Gaetz. “It is my belief that the administration is currently reviewing potential guidance from the Department of Justice to state and local law enforcement.”
Jackson Lee said it is equally concerning that the drones are used to help a public health pandemic and that they came from a Chinese company.
“I am concerned, as my colleagues have indicated, that we have no supervision of the utilization of the drones. We have no protection regarding individual Americans who may be very much unaware of the idea of drones being engaged in a health crisis,” Jackson Lee said. “I don’t think most Americans are aware of that.”
Several U.S. authorities have banned DJI drones over espionage concerns, including the U.S. Army and the Interior Department.
Despite U.S. scrutiny of the drones, the company has responded, saying it had no ulterior motive providing local agencies with the devices, chalking up criticism to party politics.
“Some people are trying to score ideological points by discouraging the use of important equipment and tools that save lives and protect American first responders,” DJI spokesman Adam Lisberg told Fox News.
State officials in South Carolina also raised concerns about the information-sharing capabilities of the drones, warning local agencies about using them. The state received six drones from the company.
Robert Spalding, a retired Air Force brigadier general and national security strategist, also said this week the drones are “sending data back to Chinese servers.”
Jackson Lee said there is reason to be concerned about the products and to monitor the potential of Chinese spying, especially amid the pandemic.
“The very fact that these are Chinese-made products, I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to understand that you may be utilizing it, but you can be assured that China may have access to the data that’s being collected just by their very nature,” she said. “China’s made no apologies about its very active spy network it’s utilized here in the United States. It would be unfortunate that we be in the middle of a health crisis, and then, we have to suffer a national security crisis.”
