And the blows keep coming for drone technology of Chinese origin in North America.
This time it is the Ontario provincial government in Canada has become the latest government entity in the country to put the kibosh on DJI, Autel and other Chinese made drones, when it announced recently that it was immediately banning Chinese-made drones from highly sensitive provincial police operations, prohibit their purchase for government use and gradually replace existing government drones with technology made in Canada or approved jurisdictions.
According to the Associated press, the main reason for the ban from government operations and provincial police was because of "growing security and privacy concerns" with foreign-made technology.
The province is towing the same line used by its southern neighbour, the USA, which banned China-made drones on the pretext that Chinese law may require companies incorporated in China to disclose data even if it's stored abroad, and drones could access or store sensitive information.
As a result, Ontario says it will immediately ban the drones from highly sensitive provincial police operations, prohibit their purchase for government use and gradually replace existing government drones with technology made in Canada or approved jurisdictions.
The government says the move aligns with other government organisations, including the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP.
Drone manufacturer DJI, the biggest maker of civilian drones in the world, whose roots are Chinese, has not taken kindly to this, accusing Ontario of putting a blanket ban on good technology just because they did not like its origins.
A spokesperson for China-based drone maker DJI said concerns around the company's products aren't supported by proven evidence and called the province's decision disappointing.
"DJI drones are life-saving tools, and no comparable products offer the same capability, reliability and cost-effectiveness," the company said in an email late Wednesday.
"We urge the authorities to focus on the facts and carefully consider the substantial impact this decision may have on public safety agencies."
DJI of course stands to lose the most from these bans, as it is the biggest drone supplier with a world with a market dominance estimated at over 70 percent.
And with the North American drone alone accounting for roughly a third of the total civilian drone sales in the world – easily the biggest market in the world – DJI has a lot to lose.
The North American market is estimated to be worth about $20,56billion, which is expected to grow to about $37billion by the year 2030.
Stephen Crawford, Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement says following the ban, it is part of the province's plan to better leverage Canada's drone manufacturing sector.
"Now more than ever, it is critical that we are protecting our province's data and safeguarding our security against bad actors," he said in a news release Wednesday.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner added the province is looking at ways to address potential security risks while ensuring police have access to modern tools.
"Police services across Ontario rely on drones to support critical operations and protect public safety, but we cannot ignore growing security and privacy concerns tied to foreign-made technology," he said.
Ontario says the measure is part of an upcoming legislative package aimed at enhancing the province's security.
The province says it will consult industry stakeholders in the coming weeks to consider replacement options, including Canadian and Ontario drone manufacturers.