Espionage involving China

N00813

Junior Member
Registered Member
The following doesn't really fit here, but putting it in the UAV section seems weirder since this is a commercial product.

I didn't know the US Army used DJI drones, but apparently they used to. I remember the Israelis ordered a few Mavics some time ago for scouting -- would have assumed USA would use Black Hornet or something like that.

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US Army calls for units to discontinue use of DJI equipment
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4 August 2017
DJI-no-fly-army.jpg

According to a U.S. Army memo obtained by sUAS News, the U.S. Army Research Lab and U.S. Navy have concluded that there are operational risks associated with
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equipment, a move that was run up the flag pole last month but kept under wraps.

Speaking to sUAS News via e-mail, DJI’s Public Relations Manager, Michael Perry said:

We are surprised and disappointed to read reports of the U.S. Army’s unprompted restriction on DJI drones as we were not consulted during their decision. We are happy to work directly with any organization, including the U.S. Army, that has concerns about our management of cyber issues.

We’ll be reaching out to the U.S. Army to confirm the memo and to understand what is specifically meant by ‘cyber vulnerabilities’.

Three weeks ago we ran a special show to highlight concerns being raised by cyber security experts.





DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, G-3/5/7

400 ARMY PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC 20310-0400

DAMO-AV

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

2 August 2017

SUBJECT: Discontinue Use of Dajiang Innovation (DJI) Corporation Unmmaned Aircraft Systems

1. References:

a. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) report, “DJI UAS Technology Threat and User Vulnerabilities,” dated 25 May 2017 (Classified).

b. Navy memorandum, “Operational Risks with Regards to DJI Family of Products,” dated 24 May 2017.

2. Background: DJI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) products are the most widely used non-program of record commercial off-the-shelf UAS employed by the Army. The Army Aviation Engineering Directorate has issued over 300 separate Airworthiness Releases for DJI products in support of multiple organizations with a variety of mission sets. Due to increased awareness of cyber vulnerabilities associated with DJI products, it is directed that the U.S. Army halt use of all DJI products. This guidance applies to all DJI UAS and any system that employs DJI electrical components or software including, but not limited to, flight computers, cameras, radios, batteries, speed controllers, GPS units, handheld control stations, or devices with DJI software applications installed.

3. Direction: Cease all use, uninstall all DJI applications, remove all batteries/storage media from devices, and secure equipment for follow on direction.

4. Point of Contact: Headquarters, Department of the Army G-3/5/7 Aviation Directorate, 703-693-3552

JOSEPH ANDERSON
Lieutenant General, GS
Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7

Some more background info:

Kevin Pomanski wrote
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“I am now sharing that there is situation related to gathering of UAS-related information that has been ongoing for a length of time. It involves the use of DJI drones to collect audio, visual and telemetry data on all flights across the Globe. The details shared here are perhaps known to a limited number of the worldwide owners and users of the DJI technology. I feel that this sort of knowledge is something that every UAS pilot and every person/company/agency needs to understand related to your aerial missions.”

And more recently:
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Government Agencies, it is alleged, have security concerns. They are worried about just what data might be being shared unwittingly.
 

SamuraiBlue

Captain
China-born New Zealand MP probed by spy agency

September 13, 2017 by Jamil Anderlini in Hong Kong

New Zealand’s national intelligence agency has investigated a China-born sitting member of parliament in connection with the decade he spent at leading Chinese military colleges. Jian Yang, an MP for New Zealand’s ruling National party, spent more than 10 years training and teaching at elite facilities including China’s top linguistics academy for military intelligence officers, the Financial Times has learnt. Since being elected in 2011, Mr Yang has been a big fundraiser for the National party. He has consistently pushed for closer ties with Beijing and for international policies and positions echoing those of China’s Communist party.

The fact he has served for six years in the governing party of a member country of the US-led “five eyes” intelligence alliance raises questions about western preparedness to deal with China’s increasingly aggressive efforts to influence foreign governments and spy on them. “China has been very active in recent years placing and cultivating people at the grassroots political levels of western democracies and helping them to reach positions of influence,” said Christopher Johnson, a former senior China analyst at the US Central Intelligence Agency now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Mr Johnson warned that while Beijing appeared to see New Zealand as a softer target than countries such as the US and UK, “it may also be using it as a testing ground for future operations in other countries”......... to read more
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True or false the US is not going to like this.
 

AssassinsMace

Lieutenant General
Sounds like a violation of his human rights. Was he charged with a crime in New Zealand for anything of his past where he was found guilty? Calling for closer ties is a crime? Shouldn't Five Eyes have known of his past? How undemocratic to sentence someone automatically as guilty without due process.
 

SamuraiBlue

Captain
Sounds like a violation of his human rights. Was he charged with a crime in New Zealand for anything of his past where he was found guilty? Calling for closer ties is a crime? Shouldn't Five Eyes have known of his past? How undemocratic to sentence someone automatically as guilty without due process.
Don't jump the guns, NZ is still in the process of investigating.The US will probably ask for an inquiry towards NZ of their screening process and ask why a person with records teaching at PLA spy school and was member of CCP admitted into NZ majority political party with clearance to sensitive diplomatic papers.

US may suspend NZ from the Echelon program if they cannot come up with a satisfying response and how they will prevent such situation from happening again.
 
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