DJI Explains Sudden Removal of Geofencing Restrictions

DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, has provided a detailed explanation for its recent decision to remove geofencing restrictions from its drones, including those preventing flight near sensitive areas like the White House, in an interview with The Verge. The announcement came just days after a small DJI drone collided with a plane fighting the LA wildfires, though the company says the geofencing changes were planned months ago and already rolled out in Europe and the UK.

According to Adam Welsh, DJI’s head of global policy, the company’s geofencing system was initially implemented when consumer drones first became widely available through retail channels, addressing a gap in regulatory preparedness. However, Welsh emphasizes that in the decade since, no regulatory agencies have mandated geofencing as a safety requirement.

“It was never going to stop a bad actor from doing something wrong,” Welsh explained, noting that the system could be circumvented through various means, such as GPS disabling. Instead, regulators have focused on other safety measures, including mandatory safety training, LAANC permissions for controlled airspace access, and Remote ID requirements.

Impact on Emergency Operations

A crucial factor in DJI’s decision was the system’s impact on emergency responders. Wayne Baker, DJI’s public safety integration director, highlighted how geofencing restrictions could impede critical operations: “An autistic child that’s missing in inclement weather — we didn’t have the time to go through ‘here’s our permissions’ and all that.”

While DJI maintains no specific documented cases where delays resulted in loss of life, the company points to its drone rescue map, which has recorded over 1,000 successful drone-assisted rescues since 2013. The potential for delays in such time-critical scenarios factored significantly into the decision to remove geofencing.

Regulatory Alignment and Operator Responsibility

The company’s new approach aligns with fundamental aviation principles that place responsibility with the operator. Welsh drew parallels to traditional aviation, noting that Cessna aircraft don’t prevent pilots from entering restricted areas – instead, pilots are responsible for knowing and following airspace regulations.

DJI emphasizes that removing geofencing doesn’t mean abandoning safety measures. The company continues to provide warnings and information about restricted areas, but the final decision now rests with the operator, consistent with regulatory frameworks worldwide.

Economic and Operational Benefits

The removal of geofencing addresses significant operational challenges, particularly in urban areas. Welsh noted that approximately 50% of urban areas in the United States lie within controlled airspace, meaning routine operations like roof inspections often required multiple layers of approval – first from the FAA, then from DJI’s unlocking system.

The change also reduces administrative burden for DJI, which previously maintained staff to process unlocking requests 24/7, though the company maintains cost savings weren’t a primary consideration in the decision.

Timing and Context

This shift comes at a critical time for DJI, as the company faces potential restrictions in the U.S. market by December 2025 unless designated federal agencies determine it poses no national security risk. The company has previously passed security reviews by various U.S. agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security in 2019, the Department of Interior, and Pentagon evaluations of specific products.

The removal of geofencing represents a significant change in DJI’s approach to drone safety and access control. While the company continues to provide operators with information about restricted areas, it has shifted responsibility for compliance entirely to the operator, aligning with existing aviation regulatory frameworks that emphasize operator responsibility over technological restrictions.

For the Drone Industry, this change marks a significant shift in how the world’s largest manufacturer approaches airspace restrictions and safety measures. The effectiveness of this new approach, particularly in sensitive areas and emergency situations, will likely be closely monitored by regulators and industry stakeholders alike.

Photos courtesy of Billy Kyle.