Trump administration bans new Chinese humanoid robots, to protect US AI buildout: Reuters
The action blocks new models from U.S. sale and cites risks of data theft, spying and critical infrastructure disruption, officials said.
- On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports and new authorizations for Chinese humanoid robots and power inverters to protect the United States' artificial intelligence supply chain from disruption and data theft.
- Authorities aim to avert hacking campaigns similar to the 2023 'Volt Typhoon' operation, after interagency groups determined that networked robotics and power inverters pose cybersecurity vulnerabilities exposing critical infrastructure to espionage or power blackouts.
- The restrictions apply only to new, unreleased models, though the FCC retains authority to revoke authorizations for equipment already approved for purchase in the United States.
- Producers may seek conditional approval for new devices from the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security through an FCC application process, mirroring existing exemptions for technologies like drones.
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated the agency is acting "in lock step with our national security agencies" to secure critical supply chains, reflecting a broader administration strategy to decouple sensitive infrastructure from foreign reliance.
42 Articles
42 Articles
US government bans humanoid robots manufactured abroad
Most humanoid robots sold in the US are manufactured abroad, particularly in China. "Advanced robotic devices" were added to the list, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Tuesday. Certain types of drones, as well as Chinese companies Huawei and China Telecom, are already on the list, which now includes what the FCC called "mobile robots" -- or robots that mimic how humans and animals walk by standing on two or four legs. The d…
New models of humanoid robots are no longer allowed to be introduced into the US. The ban is primarily aimed at China – and is intended to protect the US from data theft.
US bans new Chinese robots, power inverters in latest tech crackdown
The Trump administration on Tuesday announced bans on imports of new Chinese robots and power inverters, citing threats to US national security and supply chain vulnerabilities. Without naming China, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expanded its Covered List to include two new categories of foreign-made equipment: advanced robotic devices and connected power inverters. The robotic devices included mobile robots, such as humanoids and …
On Tuesday, the Trump government added humanoid and quadruped robots to a list of products and companies banned from importing into the United States, believing that they pose "unacceptable risks to the country's national security."
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