The FCC's Next Target: Foreign-Made Humanoid Robots and Power Inverters

The Federal Communications Commission announced Tuesday a ban on new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters from receiving equipment authorization to sell in the United States. The action follows a White House determination Monday that both technologies pose a national security risk. The FCC said the ban does not affect consumer use of previously acquired devices or the sale of models already approved through the equipment authorization process. Power inverters were flagged because their remote connectivity could allow a foreign country to shut down equipment or hack U.S. facilities. The White House report found only 7% of inverter shipments come from domestic suppliers, with the majority from Europe, Japan and China. Advanced robots were cited for potential spying threats due to sensors and remote control capabilities. The Trump administration's determination said the machines collect data that could be leveraged by malign actors to surveil Americans or commandeer the robots. The rules include a waiver process reviewed by the Defense Department or Department of Homeland Security, requiring applicants to outline plans to move manufacturing to the United States. The FCC defines advanced robotic devices as autonomous mobile robots weighing more than 4.4 pounds with sensors, connectivity and computing. A federal rule defines a domestic end product as one containing U.S.-made components valued at more than 65% of the total device, rising to 70% in 2029.