The consumer drone industry is not as old as you’d think. In fact, the first DJI drone was released just six years ago. Being a relatively new technology, drones are often seen as wonders in the sky, taking off and navigating so effortlessly in a way that’s hard to describe the first time you see it. The first time you fly a drone, you’re probably focused on operating it safely while seeing the world from above. But over time, you might start to wonder what happens to the data you generate when you fly – the logs from your flights, and the photos and videos you capture in the air.
The good news is DJI has been thinking about this too. Some people want to share what they do in the sky – posting their best photos and videos online, comparing their flight logs and trading notes about where to fly. Other people want to keep their flight information private. Either way, DJI has you covered.
DJI remains the only consumer drone company that has consciously built in privacy protections for your data. When you fly a DJI drone, your flight logs, photos, and videos stay in your control. If you want to sync your flight logs online, you can. If you want to post your best shots, we operate a sharing site called SkyPixel that highlights stunning images from around the world. But if you don’t want anyone else to know about your flights – not DJI, not your friends, not your neighbors – that’s your right, too. You can see more about how we protect your data here.
DJI’s privacy commitment shows in other ways, too. Governments and regulators are writing rules for what’s known as Remote Identification – a system for law enforcement, national security, and aviation safety authorities to be able to identify and monitor airborne drones. It’s an important tool to help ensure the world’s airspace remains safe and secure in the drone era, but there are many different ways to achieve that goal.
DJI believes Remote ID should be mandatory, and should also protect the privacy interests of drone pilots. We argued for that explicitly in a 2017 white paper, when Remote ID was still largely a theoretical goal. And that’s why authorities who use AeroScope, DJI’s own Remote ID system, need a warrant, subpoena or other judicially-approved requests for information to learn what information we have about a drone that raised suspicion.
Along with user privacy, we also work to protect data security. It’s no coincidence that when the Department of Homeland Security published a series of recommendations for secure drone use in May, every single recommendation was in line with data security features that already exist in all our drones. DJI has more data security initiatives than any other civilian drone manufacturer because we believe it’s the standard our users deserve.
Since we have always prioritized user privacy and data security, the misinformation shared about the drone industry at a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing last week was especially disappointing. When you fly a DJI drone, all of your information is yours. You share with us only what you choose, and anything your share is kept secure. Long before you took your first flight, DJI made sure that your data stays between you and your drone.
