The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced a new ban on advanced, foreign-made robots Tuesday. The ban is largely seen as a way to target humanoid robots made by China, a traditional geopolitical adversary of the U.S. that has been making enormous strides in robotics and AI in recent years. The FCC said in a press release that the robots, including mobile two-legged humanoids and four-legged quadrupeds, “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.” The release noted a government study that said national security agencies had determined that these robots could create supply chain vulnerabilities and may even pose a cybersecurity risk. Many of these same concerns were raised as the reason to ban TikTok before it was forced to sell a majority stake in the company to U.S. interests. President Donald Trump, who previously supported the TikTok ban, changed his opinion as soon as wealthy U.S. and Middle East interests expressed a desire to buy the platform.
The foreign robotics ban also includes power inverters created by foreign companies, but the new measures have exemptions on which countries may be allowed to sell their products in the U.S. and the kind of products. The release specifically notes that the Department of Defense (referred to as the Department of War by the FCC), as well as the Department of Homeland Security, have already granted some power inverters an exemption. Companies have been encouraged to apply for a conditional approval exemption.
