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FCC Bans New Foreign-Made Robot Vacuums, Threatening Future Matter and HomeKit Models

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The FCC this week banned all new "foreign-produced advanced robotic devices" because of an "unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States." The government says networked robotic systems lead to vulnerabilities that allow bad actors to control the devices and collect surveillance data from Americans.

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Advanced robotic devices are defined as software-controlled autonomous robots that can move, navigate obstacles, and have a sensor that can perceive the environment.

The ban isn't focused on just humanoid robots, and it includes robot vacuum cleaners too. Almost all robot vacuums are sold by companies located in China or are manufactured in China. Even Roomba maker iRobot, once a flagship American vacuum company, is now owned by a Chinese company after bankruptcy.

Companies are able to keep importing and selling robot vacuums already on the market, but new models will need to get approval from the government. As The Verge notes, getting approval requires a commitment to invest in U.S. manufacturing, but no investigation into security practices despite multiple mentions of national security concerns.

Future Matter-enabled smart vacuums that work with HomeKit from companies like Roborock and Ecovacs may not be able to be sold in the U.S., leaving few options for U.S. consumers unless the companies pledge to move manufacturing to the United States.

Along with robot vacuums, the FCC has banned new humanoid and quadruped robots, plus foreign-made power inverters.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: FCC Bans New Foreign-Made Robot Vacuums, Threatening Future Matter and HomeKit Models
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/30/foreign-made-robot-vacuums-ban/
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Reactions: drrich2, amartinez1660, decypher44 and 6 others
MacUserFella said:
Another instance of the US being scared of China, but not being scared to fund Israel
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One is an adversary, and the other is an ally. What kind of false equivalency is this? If there were evidence that Israel was generating consumer devices to spy on Americans, they should ban those as well, but should the U.S. not be concerned if technology is being sold into the country or could be that would allow a foreign adversary like China to spy on its citizens?
 
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Reactions: TJ82, What_Is_George, McWetty and 64 others
mikeyteh said:
One is an adversary, and the other is an ally. What kind of false equivalency is this? If there were evidence that Israel was generating consumer devices to spy on Americans, they should ban those as well, but should the U.S. not be concerned if technology is being sold into the country or could be that would allow a foreign adversary like China to spy on its citizens?
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You think china cares about your dirty floors?
 
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mikeyteh said:
One is an adversary, and the other is an ally. What kind of false equivalency is this? If there were evidence that Israel was generating consumer devices to spy on Americans, they should ban those as well, but should the U.S. not be concerned if technology is being sold into the country or could be that would allow a foreign adversary like China to spy on its citizens?
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It's literally in the article

getting approval requires a commitment to invest in U.S. manufacturing, but no investigation into security practices despite multiple mentions of national security concerns

And where is all that evidence against China? Unlike Israel, the home of all the Pegasuses of the planet and Mossad
 
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Reactions: niftychimp, TJ82, maestrodwj and 26 others
mikeyteh said:
One is an adversary, and the other is an ally. What kind of false equivalency is this? If there were evidence that Israel was generating consumer devices to spy on Americans, they should ban those as well, but should the U.S. not be concerned if technology is being sold into the country or could be that would allow a foreign adversary like China to spy on its citizens?
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The internet has become an echo chamber, people like to spew hate and division and ignore the actual facts and forgot what allies are and what adversaries are. It's an easy thing to do when your life consists of consuming information on screens from the comfort of your own home. It is very sad that it’s come to this for people to say such comments as above comparing Israel to China. Without having deep knowledge and understanding of things and only operating from emotion and hearsay, these things can definitely happen to people. I hope they actually learn one day.
 
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Sounds like a way around not having to use tarriff to be honest.

At the same time good tit for tat look up how much stuff from the USA some country’s ban/ limit.
 
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As The Verge notes, getting approval requires a commitment to invest in U.S. manufacturing, but no investigation into security practices despite multiple mentions of national security concerns.
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So it's not really about national security. The U.S. just wants companies to move manufacturing to the U.S. so the U.S. can do a reversal of what Chinese companies have done and steal China's robotics IP since their robots are more advanced.
 
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mikeyteh said:
One is an adversary, and the other is an ally. What kind of false equivalency is this? If there were evidence that Israel was generating consumer devices to spy on Americans, they should ban those as well, but should the U.S. not be concerned if technology is being sold into the country or could be that would allow a foreign adversary like China to spy on its citizens?
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Israel has an extensive espionage network in US soil and has been proven to influence elections through online campaigns targeting US citizens.

I think the meddling in internal affairs by Israel (and against US national interests) is as worrisome as China's.
 
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Reactions: niftychimp, TJ82, dabotsonline and 19 others
When you think they couldn't reach new levels of stupidity, they prove you wrong.

Here is a simple fix, pass laws like the EU did that prevent data collection and requires explicit consent to use data and right to be forgotten laws that requires corporation delete all data they have on an individual if they choose to.
 
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