Gov. DeSantis' silly takedown of Chinese-made drones

[Zorro]

He has essentially grounded $200 million worth of aerial drones used by Florida law enforcement agencies.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ideological assaults on drag queens, personal pronouns and the Walt Disney Company have restored Florida to its familiar position of national punchline. And his recent backing of a permitless concealed carry law and a six-week abortion ban, in spite of polls showing a majority of Floridians want neither, shows exactly what he thinks of most Floridians.

Now, enter the drones. Specifically, an estimated $200 million worth of aerial drones that, until recently, were being used productively by police, firefighters and mosquito control districts across Florida and in Tampa Bay. The problem for DeSantis (and the posse of adoring legislators who do his every bidding): The drones are manufactured by China-based Da Jiang Innovations, or DJI. Despite presenting no evidence they pose a security risk, the DeSantis administration says it is taking no chances with Chinese spying and has ordered them shelved.

A lot of law enforcement officials, and even a few Republican lawmakers, are not pleased with the decision. “I’m not going to let one officer risk his life or her life because someone thinks that these things talk to China,” Sen. Tom Wright, R-New Smyrna Beach, said last month during a Senate committee hearing where he tried unsuccessfully to allow law enforcement to keep flying the Chinese-made drones.

Police officers already carry watches, phones and body cameras made in China, Wright noted. And officers can own a DJI drone for personal use but not on the job, where drones help pursue criminals, identify missing people and keep watch on barricaded suspects.

Here’s a bigger question: Why would China even want to watch drone footage of police pulling over a speeding car or arresting someone on an outstanding warrant? Especially when much of the information collected by drones already is a public record under Florida law. Anyone could ask for it. DeSantis doesn’t seem bothered by such inconsistencies. He is too busy stoking the paranoia of the MAGA base he needs for his potential presidential primary run.

https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2023/04/12/gov-desantis-silly-takedown-chinese-made-drones-editorial/

[kimbutgar]

1. He really is a mini me dictator

But it will come to the point that he goes too far with that swollen ego of his!

[Marcuse]

2. Someone on this site branded him "Diet Trump".

[gay texan]

3. I love my DJI!

The Phantom 3 is freaking awesome!!!

[Martin68]

4. I own to DJI drones. They were for a while the most popular commercially available drones.

No way for China to access a Go Pro camera's footage on a DJI drone. DeSantis is a typically dumbass Republican - probably trying to look tough on China.