More than a thousand police departments and first responders across the United States use drones for public safety, but a new memo from federal officials warns that those drones may do more harm than good, posing a threat to national security depending on who manufactures them. A Wednesday, Jan. 17 memo from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warns that China is collecting data from drones made by Chinese-based manufacturers, which includes most drones on the market.

The memo calls on all private and public agencies that use drones to collect information to be wary of where they come from. According to Drone Industry Insights, the global drone market has soared, surpassing $30 billion in 2022. According to the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, most drones are Chinese-made.

90% of drones in the hobby market are manufactured by Chinese companies
70% of drones in the industrial market are manufactured by Chinese companies
80% of drones in the first responder market are manufactured by Chinese companies