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

[Analog Kid]

Federal Communications Commission? Is that who does this?

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.

China: If you want to do business here, we should get a slice of the intellectual property.

US: If you want to do business here, we should get to tighten some of the screws.

 

[xraydoc]

So apparently this administration wants to keep America from joining the modern world. No home robots, no advanced wifi routers, no advanced electric vehicles, no national support for EV charging infrastructure.... Can't wait to hear what other products that should continue to move us into the future we also can't have.

But Elon gets to sue multiple states in federal court that restrictions on AI 'nudification' apps infringe on Grok's freedom of speech. 🤦‍♂️

 

[xraydoc]

Federal Communications Commission? Is that who does this?



China: If you want to do business here, we should get a slice of the intellectual property.

US: If you want to do business here, we should get to tighten some of the screws.

Correction -
US: If you want to do business here, you need to grease our palms first.

 

[doelcm82]

So to be clear...

A robot assembled in Ohio could still:

• run insecure firmware,
• send maps to overseas servers,
• have poor authentication, or
• contain exploitable vulnerabilities.

But they get a pass because 'Merica?

They shouldn't get "a pass". But it's easier to regulate and to hold them accountable.

 

[iStorm]

FCC bans foreign-made routers
FCC bans foreign-made power inverters
FCC bans foreign-made robots

Gosh, might as well ban everything foreign-made that connects to the internet.

I'm kind of surprised TVs haven't been banned (yet). I'd be more worried about my TV listening in than my robot vacuum sharing the layout and cleanliness of my home.

 

[jimmy_john]

Can we just skip to where they bribe everyone and and then get approved

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Vacum cleaners.

Shouldn't they come up with some kind of evidence? You know, like actually look at one, instead of whatever they are doing.

Maybe there is evidence of this, and I would like to see it, cuz I'm curious.

Yup, we read that advanced forms of AI are good at finding security vulnerabilities, so it seems China-made products should be put through that wringer to see which ones might really be a danger.

 

[M5RahuL]

This includes ' power stations ' too! 😡

 

[Agent007]

If there were evidence that Israel was generating consumer devices to spy on Americans, they should ban those as well

Have you evert heard of Celebrite? The Israeli company? Their entire existence is built upon selling a device that can crack iPhone passwords. Additionally, the Israeli government is even sketchier than that of the US.

 

[Radeon85]

National security my arse. The USA is going to get left behind when it comes to technology with all these stupid bans.

 

[schlitzz]

FINALLY, we’re banning a product that sucks. Geezus.

 

[Radin.Y]

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?

Except you forgot something:
The Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency has raised its counterintelligence threat assessment of Israel to ‘critical,’ citing fears of intensified espionage. This marks an escalation from the previous ‘high’ rating.

 

[theapplehead]

Glad I just got my robot vacuum before this ridiculous ban. The US is losing more freedoms than England these days!

 

[Graphate]

I am not really certain I think much about this one way or the other, but if we’re heading toward being more privacy conscious, I think that is probably ok.

You think china cares about your dirty floors?

Ask yourself why when you visit this website there are 80 or so domains you connect to (unless you’re using an outgoing blocker like Firewalla or NopeTracker). So probably not the dirty floors, but maybe some of the other things accessible from inside your house as an IoT (unless you’re using something like firewalla).

All governments spy on each other. Even close allies.

Although a creepy stalker who spies on you is different from a close friend who overheard your conversation.

[…] China […].

"The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them."

[…]

I don’t know if it’s the capitalism part necessarily that is the issue, China is pretty capitalistic or nearly as much as the EU is if not US.

 

[jimmy_john]

Ask yourself why when you visit this website there are 80 or so domains you connect to (unless you’re using an outgoing blocker like Firewalla or NopeTracker). So probably not the dirty floors, but maybe some of the other things accessible from inside your house as an IoT (unless you’re using something like firewalla).

Of course I’m using a hardware firewall to block all of this. It’s 2026

 

[NufSaid]

Which ones AREN'T made in China

 

[Debauch]

Better that we use American made products that sell us out to our insurers, allow for abuse by “law enforcement” or allow for mass surveillance.

Flock enters the chat.

 

[F-Trunks]

This country is ****ing embarrassing. Really???

 

[haemolysis]

The more foreign tech the US bans, the more excess stock makes its way to my country at lower prices.

 

[mentaluproar]

I have a 3d printer. I'm somewhat close to a MicroCenter. I wonder how difficult it really is to just build one of these things anymore.

 

[Jetscreamer]

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?

An ally that practices genocide. America sure knows how to pick ‘em.

Chinese take-out and Chinese laundry better watch out. They are coming for you next.

Imagine comparing a country that is economically and militarily challenging the US for the #1 spot to one that couldn’t hope to do so and thinking it is a good comparison.

Our tax dollars funding genocide is what makes us great again.

I've been saying it for years, the CCP knowing my shopping lists, my shoe brands, and where my dog sleeps is a a massive national security issue. I can only imagine all of the important scenarios the FCC had to discuss.

But honestly, I'm just relieved for my assigned Chinese spy. Imagine logging in for your shift in China hoping for the grand prize and instead you're forced to watch a my robovac get aggressively stuck on my bath mat for an hour before running out of battery.

President Xi has seen your dick pix too. And he’s not impressed.

The irrational “China is bad!” mindset is alive and well.

Sinophobia has never went out of fashion. This is just the 21st century flavor of Yellow Peril.

Dust Bunnies rejoice! MAGA has made you great again.

It's much easier for the Chinese just to look up your accessible-online property tax records, which in many cities includes a basic map of your home. Although I suppose your Roborock could tell the Chinese whether your home collects more dirt than your neighbor's. 😛

Or just pay a data broker.

Google, Meta, OpenAI: Officially sanctioned spyware.

FCC bans foreign-made routers
FCC bans foreign-made power inverters
FCC bans foreign-made robots

Gosh, might as well ban everything foreign-made that connects to the internet.

I'm kind of surprised TVs haven't been banned (yet). I'd be more worried about my TV listening in than my robot vacuum sharing the layout and cleanliness of my home.

Wait till they find out about Haier, Hisense, TCL and Meidea.