Recently, DJI announced that they would remove the geofencing system on their drones, primarily due to privacy and data collection concerns.  This move has generated excitement among many DJI users, including recreational flyers, commercial operators, and public safety pilots. In this article, we will define what geofencing is and examine the wider implications of eliminating this system.

What is DJI Geofencing?

Many years ago, DJI incorporated a feature known as geofencing into its products to enhance safety and prevent potential accidents or misuse of their drones. Geofencing is a virtual boundary around a specific area, typically defined by GPS coordinates. When a drone enters a geofenced area, the system can trigger specific actions such as restricting flight capabilities, limiting altitude, or even preventing takeoff entirely. DJI’s geofencing system was designed to help users avoid flying drones in restricted zones, like airports, government buildings, or other sensitive areas, providing an added layer of safety and compliance.

Previously, with geofencing, if you wanted to fly in controlled airspace, you had to submit a request including your flight’s location, date, time, and altitude to DJI’s geofencing website, Fly Safe. There are little-known ways to “self-unlock” the geofencing restrictions; however, these are a moot point now and likely violate DJI’s terms of service at the very least.

Why was Geofencing Removed?

Inaccurate Or Unnecessary Flight Restrictions

Geofencing garnered criticism and frustration from drone operators who felt the geofencing system was overly restrictive and, at times, inaccurate. Many users complained that the geofencing feature would prevent them from flying in areas where it was safe, such as near private airfields or rural areas where no real threat existed to manned aircraft. Furthermore, there were instances where geofencing would incorrectly categorize locations as no-fly zones, preventing drones from taking off in areas that had no official restrictions.

Consumer Backlash and Privacy Concerns

The decision to remove geofencing also stemmed from growing concerns over privacy. DJI does retain data for a certain period, which varies based on local laws and regulations. This data includes flight location data, user account information, flight logs, user behavior data, and safety incident reports. There were fears that the company’s geofencing could be used as an excuse to track users’ locations, further feeding into broader concerns about data privacy.

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