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.
The ban will not apply to robots that have already been purchased. China’s Unitree is likely a major target of this new ban, and the company already sells humanoid robots and robotic dogs inside the U.S., as any American fan of robots is likely aware from watching social media videos.
The ban doesn’t prevent retailers from continuing to sell robot models that have been previously approved through the FCC’s equipment authorization process. The U.S. government is also allowed to buy whatever overseas robots it likes, according to the release.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr celebrated the move Tuesday in a statement posted online, specifically praising President Trump, as every member of the Trump regime does on a regular basis to show deference to their Dear Leader.
“Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue to do our part to secure America’s critical supply chains and, with today’s action, the FCC is acting in lock step with our national security agencies to do just that,” said Carr.
We guess this means Americans won’t be able to buy the Unitree Gundam anytime soon.