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DJI’s removal of geofencing

Concerns about U.S. security intensified in early 2025 in the wake of changes enacted by the world’s predominant drone company. For more than a decade, Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) — which holds roughly a 90% share of the global drone market — had employed geofencing that automatically blocked operators from entering restricted airspace or “no-fly zones” as declared by the FAA. On January 13, a week before President Trump’s inauguration, DJI eliminated the geofencing feature from most of its drones being used in the United States.

Robert Newcomb, a Utah-based weapons engineer and DoD contractor who works with drones, told The Epoch Times that America’s lack of counter-drone technology and coordination among U.S. agencies “opens up a real concern” over DJI’s geofencing removal.

“The FBI does not communicate well with other federal agencies like the FAA. The FBI should be having classified briefings with the FAA to help them understand the threat and make informed decisions about domestic regulation.”

Not enemy drones

On the broader wave of drone sightings, Robert told The Epoch Times that the reported objects seem to be “nothing out of the ordinary,” and that the sightings didn’t set off alarm bells for him. “Usually, if it’s going to be a threat, they’re going to act quickly,” he said — pointing out that the drones caused no apparent harm as they hovered or flitted for prolonged periods, and that U.S. agencies already have capabilities for detecting and engaging threats in airspace.

“Should we be fearful? The answer is a hard ‘no.’ But there’s a caveat to that.”

Don’t over-regulate; allocate airspace

Robert told the paper he fears over-regulation will “stifle innovation… and how the technology advances,” and that “instead of forcing every drone to be tracked, we just offer an airspace for them to operate in.” He emphasized a need for federal investment in counter-drone technology, and for officials to answer questions from citizens directly rather than deflecting — acknowledging where security concerns prevent disclosure rather than stonewalling.

FBI responsiveness and Kash Patel

Robert, a civilian who is “well-versed in applying technology to known classified threats in a theater of war,” told The Epoch Times the FBI has previously rebuffed his efforts to alert the agency to suspected threats: “They wouldn’t even interview me or make a report,” despite several FBI visits over the past several years. He said he hopes Trump’s pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, will enact the changes needed to improve U.S. counter-drone technology and inter-agency collaboration.

“I think we’re on the path to solving it — to ensure that our airspace is safe.”