DJI Removes Video Shot in National Parks After It Raises Eyebrows
11 comments
·October 22, 2025josephcsible
jcims
> However, since the video was removed, it’s a safe bet that this isn’t true
Maybe, maybe not. Is the value of the video worth the negative buzz? They could post a permit on their site homepage and it's still going to do damage.
garyfirestorm
I am really unsure what is the root cause of this controversy. Restricted space needs permits -> you get permits -> you shoot beautiful landscape … controversy
wongarsu
Some people dislike inconsiderate drone users, or just drones in general -> they see video shot in restricted space -> they assume it was made without permit and in the most damaging way possible -> they make a lot of noise about this perceived slight
null
blinding-streak
When I see photos of the Grand Prismatic Spring, it looks so vibrant and colorful that it seems to jump off the screen.
I really hope to visit it in person some day.
largbae
It is beautiful, even more colorful than the pictures to me, but it is always covered by steam to some extent.
There are some smaller thermal pools near Old Faithful that have similar colors but let you get a closer look.
bryanhogan
I'm really questioning if an article like this is frontpage worthy?
seanhunter
It really isn’t.
The story:
An independent creator makes a post for a website
People point out that post includes drone footage shot in places you aren’t supposed to fly a drone.
Website takes the post down.
Fricken
It's a hassle to get permits to shoot anything in Canadian national parks and they'll ride your ass if they find unpermitted footage of their park being used in a commercial context.
The rock climber Adam Ondra climbed the Dawn Wall in Yosemite and is sitting on an epic rock climbing documentary about it that he cannot release because his team failed to secure the necessary permits.
> At the time of initial reporting, it was speculated that DJI might have secured the necessary permits. However, since the video was removed, it’s a safe bet that this isn’t true, or at least DJI itself is uncertain if it’s true.
Previously: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45572640