FCC bans two devices with Huawei subsidiary's surveillance chips

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission said it would not let two devices enter the U.S. market because they contain surveillance chips made by Huawei subsidiary HiSilicon. The banned items are a wireless video transmitter and a dashboard camera. HiSilicon markets its products as designed for the surveillance market, with built-in detection algorithms for human faces.

The ban is the first of its kind under new rules that took effect on October 13, which prohibit devices containing smart components made by companies on the FCC's covered list. HiSilicon is on that list, an official public directory the agency maintains under a 2019 regulation covering products believed to threaten national security. Before the new rules, agency rules did not ban otherwise lawful devices from including component parts made by covered list entities.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in a statement that the products were potential spyware. He said video devices containing surveillance chips from covered list entities "pose an obvious and unacceptable risk to the nation and our people." He added that the FCC "will continue to act with vigilance in protecting and promoting America's national security."

Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment.