US Interior Department is grounding its drone fleet due to risks of Chinese spying

Photo by Sean O’Kane / The Verge

The US Interior Department, which oversees federal land and resource management, says it’s grounding its entire aerial drone fleet of more than 800 UAVs out of concern for Chinese spying and drone-aided cyberattacks. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal today, and the department confirmed the grounding to The Verge.

Every drone in use by the Interior Department is either manufactured in China or uses some Chinese-made parts, the WSJ reports. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt made the order earlier today, and the drones will remain grounded until the department completes a review of the security risks they may pose.

US officials are concerned the drones may be used for espionage or cyberattacks

“Secretary Bernhardt is...

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