The US Federal Communications Commission has added foreign-made advanced robots and connected power inverters to its Covered List, restricting their approval for import and sale in the United States. The move is aimed chiefly at reducing perceived security risks from Chinese technology, amid concerns that internet-connected machines with cameras could collect sensitive information or enable cyberattacks.

The FCC action, announced on 28 July, affects equipment that requires its authorisation before entering the US market. Although the rules are written broadly for foreign-produced devices, China is reportedly the main focus; officials also want to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains and encourage more domestic manufacturing.