The Federal Communications Commission bans foreign-made advanced robotic devices to address national security and cybersecurity risks.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially banned all foreign-made advanced robotic devices from the United States, including humanoid robots and robot vacuums. The administration announced that these devices were added to the 'Covered List,' which identifies communications equipment that poses an unacceptable risk to national security. The ban aims to mitigate supply chain and cybersecurity vulnerabilities caused by relying on foreign technology, such as the incident where a software engineer hacked a DJI Romo robot vacuum to access data from thousands of devices worldwide. China's commerce ministry has responded to the move with a warning of retaliation, stating that the FCC's escalating restrictions on Chinese goods severely damage China-U.S. economic and trade stability. While the ban does not affect devices already owned by consumers or those previously approved by the FCC, it limits the options for new imports. This move comes as the administration prepares for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September, with President Trump indicating that the U.S. may adopt a more cautious stance on AI controls to maintain American tech leadership.