FCC Adds Chinese Humanoid and Quadruped Robots to the Covered List, Blocking Equipment Authorization for New Imports
The FCC issued a Covered List designation on 2026-07-28 barring new models of foreign-made humanoid robots, quadrupeds ('robot dogs'), and power inverters from receiving the equipment authorization required to import, market, or sell wireless devices in the US. The underlying national security determination, made by a White House-convened interagency body, argues internet-connected robots '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.' Analysts put Chinese humanoid robots' global market share near 85%, so this is a supply-side shock to anyone building embodied-AI products on off-the-shelf hardware.
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