The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially added foreign-produced robotic vacuums and other "advanced robotic devices" to a list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. The new rules, which apply only to newly authorized devices, aim to mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the potential for espionage.
The agency stated that the networked capabilities of these robotic systems create "extensive vulnerabilities and vectors for attacks" that could manipulate data and physical operations. According to the FCC's updated policy, reliance on advanced robotic devices manufactured outside the U.S. leaves Americans susceptible to surveillance, with devices capable of collecting data that could "enhance the capabilities of foreign intelligence services, or to remotely commandeer the robots."
While no specific brands were named, manufacturers of robotic vacuums sold in the U.S. include iRobot, SharkNinja, Dyson, Samsung, and LG, with many of these products manufactured in countries such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. iRobot, the maker of the Roomba, was noted as an early pioneer in the robotic vacuum market; the company has stated it is working with the FCC to understand the new regulations.
The FCC's action targets devices that are autonomous, equipped with sensors, and utilize smart mapping technology. These robots typically weigh under five pounds and can be powered by firmware, AI models, or sensors for navigation.
This move follows similar actions by the FCC to ban foreign-produced consumer-grade routers, which were also deemed a supply chain vulnerability and a severe cybersecurity risk. The agency found that some foreign-made routers were implicated in cyberattacks targeting U.S. critical infrastructure.