Leveraging Knowledge to Manage Your Data Risks
This post was co-authored by Government Enforcement + White-Collar Defense partner David E. Carney.
On June 6, 2025, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at significantly reshaping the future of drone policy in the United States. One focuses on protecting national airspace from malicious drone threats, while the other seeks to supercharge…
In a surprising move, China-based DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, is not flinching at the prospect of tighter U.S. restrictions on Chinese drone companies. In fact, they’re embracing it.
Currently, the Trump administration is finalizing executive orders that would affect the commercial drone landscape in the U.S., which could be set for a serious…
Last week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released Cybersecurity Guidance: Chinese-Manufactured Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), which outlines the risks and threats posed by Chinese-manufactured unmanned aerial systems (UAS or drones) and provides cybersecurity safeguards to reduce these risks to networks and sensitive data.
The biggest issue:…
Last week, a federal complaint was filed against Andrew Hernandez in federal District Court in California charging him with the unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft (or drone). The allegations against Hernandez include hindering a police investigation of a burglary at a pharmacy. While a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter was heading to the scene…
State and local agencies’ use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS, or drones) has exploded in recent years. In Alaska, the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (Department) has started using drones for critical infrastructure inspection and avalanche monitoring and mitigation.
With Alaska’s freezing temperatures and expansive geography, drones offer the Department a chance to get…
Next week, the House of Representatives China Committee plans to introduce a bill that would ban the purchase of Chinese-made drones by the U.S. government. This bill is an effort to revamp the prior push for this ban that was derailed by lobbying efforts.
The American Security Drone Act, as it is coined, would not…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed a district court’s 2022 ruling on the constitutionality of Texas Chapter 423 law (i.e., the drone law) which restricts the actions of drones. Nat’l Press Photographers Ass’n v. McCraw, No. 22-50337 (Oct. 23, 2023) The law reads:
A person commits an offense if the…
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been working toward one goal when it comes to drones: get more of them safely in the air. However, right now, the FAA is without a permanent leader or a stable funding package. The Senate Commerce Committee recently held a hearing to consider a nomination for FAA Administrator; hopefully…
This week the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that drone pilots who are unable to comply with the Remote ID Rule broadcast requirement will have until March 16, 2024, to equip their drone appropriately. If a drone pilot fails to comply with this requirement after this extended deadline, the pilot could be subject to fines…
Two more companies will conduct drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved UPS Flight Forward and uAvionix for this type of operation in national airspace. UPS Flight Forward plans to conduct BVLOS drone operations for small-package delivery using a ground-based surveillance system. UPS Flight Forward will conduct…
