Privacy/Security concerns with DJI Drones

[Sparklight]

Is any drone pilot concerned about privacy / security implications of using DJI drones like Spark or the amount of data they might be collecting about their users and uploading to DJI servers in different countries?

I understand that some info is required for technical reasons and to ensure the drones are being used responsibly but the below article makes me wonder what else might be going on under the hood with DJI drones to prompt such a response.

US Army reportedly asks units to stop using DJI drones, citing cybersecurity concerns

 

[Glen e]

No...not at all, I've got so many other things to get paranoid about. My data is mostly about my backyard, hardly national security.

 

[The Editor]

Is any drone pilot concerned about privacy / security implications of using DJI drones like Spark or the amount of data they might be collecting about their users and uploading to DJI servers in different countries?

I understand that some info is required for technical reasons and to ensure the drones are being used responsibly but the below article makes me wonder what else might be going on under the hood with DJI drones to prompt such a response.

US Army reportedly asks units to stop using DJI drones, citing cybersecurity concerns

Nope - not at all.
The DJI Go app (and Go 4) has been reporting back to DJI pretty much from day one. It is doing this behind the scenes and you agreed to this when you clicked the EULA.
This has been discussed previously as well.
DJI Go App and Your Privacy

Additionally....These are all the connections the app make, or attempts to (outside of those you need for maps).

•mydjiflight.dji.com
•newrelic.com - app analytics
•djistatic.com
•flurry.com - Mobile analytics company
•conf.international.baidu.com
•baidu.com
•qbox.me (via qbox.wscdns.com) •upgrade.dj2006.net
•pingma.qq.com
•u.dji.com
•acbe.aasky.net -type this one in a browser for a nice scare.
•tpns.qq.com
•dds.dji.com
•pilotv2.djivideos.com
•active.dji.com
•m.dji.com
•djicdn.com
•www.skypixel.com
•djiexplore.com
•flysafe-api.dji.com

It's very simple. If you are unhappy about what is being reported back then fly a non DJI platform.

 

[Jagerbomb52]

US Army told them (DJI) to go take a hike.



US Army calls for units to discontinue use of DJI equipment - sUAS News - The Business of Drones

 

[gnuPilot]

This is the world we are living in. Big Data and it’s uses are being driven by big business. Everything is churning out so much data you wouldn’t believe.

 

[PascalG]

I can't understand the US army s concerns especially since data ends up on communist Chinese servers but as private law abiding citizen I m not worried. I don't need to hide my travels... if big brother is watching, he's going to be bored real quickly

 

[Advexure]

Not worried one bit. The more data, the more that the technology can be improved. Until they use data the wrong way there is nothing to be concerned about. As @The Editor mentioned, they've been collecting data since day one, and who isn't collecting data in today's day in age.

 

[gnuPilot]

Not worried one bit. The more data, the more that the technology can be improved. Until they use data the wrong way there is nothing to be concerned about. As @The Editor mentioned, they've been collecting data since day one, and who isn't collecting data in today's day in age.

That is the problem with Big Data currently. There is no real overwatch on how information is being used.

 

[PascalG]

So big brother using big data is going to sell my hobbys and travel habits to google who s going to target ads in my browser... i don't care... if anything I d rather see drone, boating, horses or Bahamas traveling related ads than viagra or psyorisis ads

 

[Stickboy]

Suppose you guys don't use smartphones and never search the internet using Google (would explain many of the questions in these fora)?

 

[gnuPilot]

Suppose you guys don't use smartphones and never search the internet using Google (would explain many of the questions in these fora)?

Sometimes it’s more efficient to ask questions from people on a forum who have probably experienced the same thing vs googling. Actually I prefer DuckDuckGo for search the web as google already has enough information on me.