Humanoid robots from China just landed on Washington's latest tech blacklist. The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday barred new "advanced robotic devices" from Chinese manufacturers—covering humanoids and animal-like quadrupeds—over what it calls "unacceptable" national security risks, arguing that the machines could be exploited for surveillance or remote control, reports the Guardian. The order also blocks certain Chinese-made connected power inverters used to hook solar energy systems and batteries to the grid and data centers, in a move aligned with the Trump administration's push for US-based supply chains.
"These devices could create supply chain vulnerabilities that could disrupt US economic and national security and could create a cybersecurity risk that threatened American critical infrastructure," the FCC said in a statement, per Reuters. Existing approved models won't be automatically pulled, but the FCC reserves the right to yank prior authorizations. The Chinese Embassy in DC blasted the decision as political and vowed to take "all necessary measures in response to any action that causes material harm to its interests."
A Chinese tech expert quoted in state media, meanwhile, said the US' actions reveal "deep anxiety" about losing its technology edge, per the Guardian. The AP notes that the move comes ahead of President Trump's planned meeting later this year with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "It's a steady drumbeat of potential flashpoints heading into [the summit]," according to one think-tank analyst.
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