US bans new Chinese robots, power inverters in latest tech crackdown

The Trump administration on Tuesday announced bans on imports of new Chinese robots and power inverters, citing threats to US national security and supply chain vulnerabilities.The action would ban the import and sale of new robotic devices and power inverters but would not affect any previously bought devices.“The networked capabilities of advanced robotic systems create extensive vulnerabilities and vectors for attacks that can manipulate the data and physical operation of the advanced robotic system,” the FCC notice said.“Advanced robotic devices 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.”China’s UBTech unveils humanoid robot companion with lifelike skin and ‘emotional AI’On inverters, the FCC alleged that their “remote connectivity” feature has introduced “additional vulnerabilities which compound as inverter-based resources proliferate on the US grid.”