DJI’s Move to Drop Geofencing Puts Security Teams on High Alert

DJI—the largest global drone manufacturer, commanding a 76% share of the market—has quietly made a decision that will profoundly impact the drone security landscape: it has removed geofencing from its drones.

For years, DJI was the only drone manufacturer that had implemented geofences—essentially virtual boundaries—into its firmware. The built-in software feature used GPS to determine a drone’s location and automatically prevent it from taking off or flying in designated no-fly zones (NFZs)—a safeguard that many drone pilots, security teams, and critical infrastructure operators unknowingly relied on.

Now, that layer of protection is gone.

This decision comes at a time when discussions around drone security and regulation are already at an all time high. Some countries have even considered a DJI drone ban, citing national security concerns.

With geofencing removed, the responsibility for airspace compliance now falls entirely on drone operators—whether they are commercial pilots following regulations, uninformed hobbyists, or bad actors looking to exploit security vulnerabilities. Without a DJI drone ban currently in place in the U.S., organizations must take proactive steps to secure their airspace.

While this change was likely a strategic business decision for DJI, the implications for security teams are significant. With no automatic restrictions preventing flight in sensitive areas—from stadiums and military bases to prisons and power plants—the risk of unauthorized drone activity increases dramatically.

Let’s look at why DJI made this decision, what it means for airspace security, and how critical infrastructure and security leaders should adapt their drone defense strategies.

Understanding DJI’s influence in the drone market

Few companies have had as much impact on the drone industry as DJI. The company set the standard for drone performance and accessibility, making DJI the go-to choice for many commercial, recreational, and security applications. Since DJI manufactures the most popular drones on the market, any change the company makes has far-reaching consequences.

Beyond its hardware, DJI has long been at the forefront of drone innovation, shaping industry standards along the way. It introduced Drone ID as an early approach to drone identification, attempting to lay the groundwork for what would become Remote ID—today’s industry standard for identifying and tracking drones in flight.

With such an outsized influence, DJI’s decisions don’t just impact its users—they affect the entire industry. And removing geofencing is no exception.

By eliminating geofencing, DJI is stepping away from restricting airspace access, leaving security teams to track and manage unauthorized drone activity without any built-in safeguards or automated deterrents. This shift has also intensified conversations about potential regulatory responses, with some advocating for tighter restrictions or even an outright DJI drone ban.

How geofencing worked—and why it’s gone

Before this change, DJI’s geofencing system acted as a line of defense. A drone attempting to fly in a restricted area would either refuse to take off or automatically land. These restrictions were implemented in DJI’s firmware and could only be bypassed if the pilot received authorization or, as we’ve seen in some cases, if the drone was deliberately hacked.

Other drone manufacturers have experimented with geofencing, but none implemented it as extensively or effectively as DJI. Some, like Autel, hinted they would introduce similar restrictions, particularly in response to the war in Ukraine, but no company enforced geofencing on the same scale as DJI.

So, why did DJI get rid of geofencing? While conspiracy theories abound because of DJI’s links to the Chinese government, the simplest explanation likely comes down to liability and operational complexity.

By removing geofencing, DJI is no longer legally on the hook for enforcing airspace restrictions. If a DJI drone is used irresponsibly, the company can’t be blamed for "allowing" the flight. Now, if a flight violates airspace regulations, that's on the pilot—not DJI.

Another factor is the complexity of maintaining an accurate, up-to-date database of restricted airspace. No-fly zones vary by country and change frequently, often in response to shifting security concerns or temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) around major events. Ensuring compliance across different regulatory environments required constant updates. Eliminating geofencing drives efficiencies for DJI, allowing it to standardize its drones across different regions.

What replaces geofencing?

Instead of physically preventing takeoff in restricted areas, DJI has introduced Enhanced Warning Zones—a system that alerts pilots when they may be entering restricted airspace but does not stop the drone from flying.

With this change, pilots will see on-screen warnings notifying them of no-fly zones, but they can still take off and fly in these areas. A responsible, well-trained operator will likely take these warnings seriously and avoid the airspace. Less experienced pilots may misunderstand or ignore them. For malicious operators, removing geofencing eliminates a barrier that once kept them out of restricted areas.

While this change was rolled out in Europe a few months ago with little controversy, its expansion to other markets, including the U.S., has sparked discussion among drone security professionals. Even former DJI head of global policy, Brendan Schulman, weighed in on the implications: “Ten years almost to the day after a DJI drone infamously crash-lands on the White House lawn, DJI has removed the built-in geofencing feature that automatically impedes such an incident, replacing it with warnings that the user can choose to ignore,” he posted to X. “This is a remarkable shift in drone safety strategy with a potentially enormous impact.”

Security teams must rethink drone defense

While Enhanced Warning Zones offer some guidance, they don’t prevent flights like geofencing did. Critical infrastructure facilities—including airports, water treatment plants, oil refineries, and other high-risk sites—are among the most vulnerable to this change. With no automatic barriers, security teams are now fully responsible for detecting and responding to unauthorized drones.

Here are a few steps security teams can take to protect their facilities, people, and operations from drone threats in light of DJI’s decision:

1. Improve airspace awareness

Without geofencing, organizations need reliable, real-time visibility into their airspace to detect, track, and analyze drone activity. Remote ID provides some insight, but not all drones broadcast their locations, and compliance remains inconsistent. A comprehensive drone defense system is the only way to achieve full situational awareness.

Solutions like SkySafe’s drone detection technology provide continuous drone monitoring, allowing organizations to differentiate between authorized and unauthorized drones, track flight patterns, and respond quickly to potential threats before they escalate. As unauthorized drone activity increases, whether due to negligence or malicious intent, having this level of airspace awareness is no longer optional—it’s a critical part of modern security operations.

2. Strengthen policies and enforcement

Even though DJI has stopped restricting flights, regulatory enforcement is still in place. Security teams should stay updated on drone laws and understand how to report airspace violations. Unauthorized drone operators can incur fines, criminal charges, and even incarceration—particularly if they involve critical infrastructure or public safety risks.

The University of Illinois’ police department, for example, recently set a precedent for drone enforcement when a rogue drone entered its stadium during a sold-out football game. Using real-time drone detection and forensics tools, the university quickly located and arrested the operator. The university then worked with the state attorney to charge the individual with reckless conduct, sending a clear message that unauthorized drone operators flying in restricted areas would face legal action.

3. Invest in education and awareness

While the responsibility to understand airspace regulations now falls on drone pilots, many operators—especially hobbyists—lack awareness of key concepts like NFZs and geofencing. Organizations that are vulnerable to drone-related risks have a vested interest in promoting education around responsible drone use. Supporting pilot training programs, partnering with industry groups, and ensuring pilots have access to clear, reliable resources can all help reduce accidental violations.

How this change affects drone operators

For drone pilots, no geofencing means no more safety net. Previously, if a DJI drone refused to take off in a restricted area, it was a clear indicator that flight wasn’t allowed. Now, the onus is on pilots to check airspace restrictions before launching—and ignoring them can lead to serious consequences.

Tools like the UAV Forecast app, Aloft’s Air Aware, and DJI’s new Enhanced Warning Zones can help pilots determine whether they are in a no-fly zone, but these tools don’t prevent illegal flight. Operators who fail to verify restrictions—or dismiss warnings—can easily find themselves violating airspace laws.

Flying in restricted airspace remains illegal, and enforcement agencies are better equipped than ever to identify, prosecute, and convict violators. SkySafe’s drone forensics technology, for example, not only helps pinpoint the exact location of a drone operator—it also provides forensic proof of their violations needed for the courtroom.

For responsible operators, little will change—they’re already following regulations. But for those who assume they won’t get caught, security teams now have powerful drone detection tools and advanced drone forensic capabilities to hold violators accountable.

Drone defense can’t rely on manufacturers

DJI’s decision to remove geofencing is a strategic move that simplifies its operations and shifts the responsibility for airspace compliance where it arguably belongs—on pilots. By eliminating its enforcement of no-fly zones, DJI avoids the liabilities and complexities of maintaining constantly changing airspace restrictions.

With geofencing gone, security teams can no longer rely on automated restrictions to keep unauthorized drones out, prompting renewed conversations about a DJI drone ban and increasing pressure on organizations to adopt stronger drone defense measures. While this presents new challenges, it will also drive much-needed improvements in drone security. With the right tools and frameworks in place, organizations can turn this change into an opportunity to strengthen their approach to drone security and build a more resilient security posture—one that doesn’t rely on drone manufacturers.


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