The Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on humanoid robots from China on Tuesday, saying that the technology poses “unacceptable risks” to the country’s national security. The move comes as the Trump administration has increasingly sought to keep Chinese technology out of the US.
The FCC defines the banned robots as “advanced robotic devices”, which include humanoids and animal-like quadrupeds.
“Advanced robotic devices collect data that could be leveraged by malign actors to surveil Americans, enhance the capabilities of foreign intelligence services, or to remotely commandeer the robots,” FCC officials wrote in their determination of the threat posed by robots.
In addition to the humanoid robots, the FCC also barred connected power inverters, which enable renewable energy sources and batteries to connect to grids and datacenter equipment.
The restrictions point to the Trump administration’s goal of elevating technology made in the US, along with driving firms to shift manufacturing to be done locally.
“The President has made clear that the United States must have independent and secure supply chains for critical and emerging technologies like robotic devices and power inverters,” an administration official, who declined to be named, told Reuters.
“Economic security is national security, and the Trump administration continues to implement a nuanced and multi-faceted policy agenda to reindustrialize America,” he added.
The restrictions apply only to robot and inverter models that have not yet been released. However, the FCC has the authority to revoke authorizations for sales of models that have already been authorized for purchase in the US.
Humanoid robots, topped with AI-enabled “brains”, are forecast by some analysts for broad adoption in consumer and industrial arenas, while explosive datacenter construction in the US will depend on reliable sources of inverters.
China is the world’s largest maker of inverters, led by Sungrow Power Supply and Huawei, which are already heavily sanctioned by the US.
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
