DJI Attempts to Stop Its Drones Being Used in Russia's War With Ukraine

pcmag.com:

Chinese company DJI has decided to temporarily suspend sales of its drones in Russia and Ukraine following reports they were being used in combat.

The Chinese government is attempting to stay neutral regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Chinese companies have continued to trade with Russia unlike many Western companies. However, as Reuters reports, DJI is breaking ranks because it has inadvertently become involved in the conflict.

A company spokesperson said, "DJI abhors any use of our drones to cause harm, and we are temporarily suspending sales in these countries in order to help ensure no-one uses our drones in combat." The spokesperson goes on to state that the sales suspension was, "not to make a statement about any country, but to make a statement about our principles."

The decision follows reports that the Russian military is using DJI products as part of its "special operation" in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have also accused DJI of leaking data on its military forces to Russia, which DJI denies doing.

Late last year the US Treasury Department placed DJI under an investment ban after it was found to be supporting, "the biometric surveillance and tracking of ethnic and religious minorities in China, particularly the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang." The use of DJI drones by the Russian military, combined with DJI only deciding to restrict drone sales two months into the conflict, will do little to change the Treasury Department's opinion of the company.

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