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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: CHINA DRONE CYBER THREAT
HEADLINE: U.S. Agencies Warn of Security Risks from Chinese Drones
TEASER: FBI says Chinese-made drones widely used within the U.S. could be used for spying
PUBLISHED: 1/26/24, 7:42a
BYLINE: Matt Dibble
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Oakland, CA
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR: Matt Dibble
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Stearns
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, Reuters, Skype, NASA, Cal Fire, Skydio, Storyblocks
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:03
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TV/R
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO)) [[Chinese-made drones dominate the global market and are used widely by government agencies inside the United States. As Matt Dibble reports, U.S. cybersecurity watchdogs warn that using those drones come with risks. ]]
((NARRATOR))
When it comes to drones, one brand rises above all others. DJI, based in Shenzhen, China, has captured the drone market for everything from amateur photography to
((NARRATOR)) ((Courtesy: Cal Fire))
fighting wildfires…
((NARRATOR)) ((Courtesy: NASA))
...to protecting sensitive sites.
((NARRATOR))
And this is a problem, say U.S. cybersecurity watchdogs. ((end courtesy))
In January, the FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned that laws enacted in recent years by the Chinese government give it the ability to look at any data collected by Chinese firms. ((Mandatory CG: NASA)) Drones used widely across the U.S. could become tools for spying, the agencies say.
[[ FOR RADIO: James Lewis is a cybersecurity expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and spoke to VOA via Skype.]]
((James Lewis, Center for Strategic and International Studies)) ((Skype))
“You could think of a police department in a major city using a drone where the feed might be accessible to the Chinese government. You could think of drones being used by the military. By the Forest Service, by federal agencies, by fire departments. And so it could give you insight into the public safety structure of the United States and a little bit into the national security.”
((NARRATOR))
The concern is not new. In 2021 DJI was sanctioned along with other Chinese manufacturers who the U.S. said made products that could be used for spying.
And last year the U.S. Congress passed a bill banning the purchase and use of Chinese-made drones by federal agencies, as well as state and local agencies using federal funding for the purchase.
((NARRATOR))
The Chinese government objects to claims of spying.
[[ FOR RADIO: The Chinese government objects to these claims said Wang Wenbin, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.]
((Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson))
“The U.S. has overstretched the concept of national security and fabricates all kinds of excuses to abuse export controls to unreasonably suppress Chinese institutions and firms.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Courtesy: Skydio))
The new guidance, which did not cite any specific incidents, encourages the adoption of American-made drones equipped with security features. ((end courtesy))
((NARRATOR)) But Chinese drones have proved reliable and far less expensive than comparable American models.
[[FOR RADIO: ...says Lewis.]]
((James Lewis, Center for Strategic and International Studies)) ((Skype))
“The Chinese government was very strategic in subsidizing certain industries that they thought would give it an intelligence advantage.”
((NARRATOR))
Though the U.S. Army and some federal agencies have banned the use of Chinese drones, many other agencies still use and depend on the equipment they’ve invested in.
The new warning aims to speed up a transition, says Lewis.
((James Lewis, Center for Strategic and International Studies)) ((Skype))
“It makes people step back and say it's not just the price tag that reflects the full cost of buying this drone. There's a security risk.”
((NARRATOR))
In a statement, DJI said, “Customers only share flight logs, images or videos with us if they affirmatively choose to do so.” And that users can always “fly offline” without connecting to the internet.
((NARRATOR))
With more eyes in the sky every day, questions about who is looking and why will only increase.
((Matt Dibble, VOA News, Oakland, California))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Oakland, CA
BylineMatt Dibble
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
