The USA has added mobile robots to the list of prohibited devices for national security reasons, fearing the risks they pose.

The U.S. telecommunications regulatory authority, the FCC, has included mobile robots on the list of banned devices, based on the conclusions of a White House working group that highlighted the national security risks associated with robots manufactured abroad.

They could compromise the safety of American citizens and create vulnerabilities in the supply chain. Humanoid robots are primarily developed for industrial applications, but incidents such as accidental data access by a French programmer underscore the potential risks.

Robots authorized by the Department of Defense are exempt from the ban. The FCC's decision, which does not apply to models already sold, comes in the context of the Trump administration's efforts to support the American industry. Companies like Boston Dynamics and Tesla are developing robots in the U.S., but the ban could affect Chinese companies like Unitree, which dominate the global market for humanoid robots.

The Chinese embassy criticized the measures, warning that they will affect American companies and consumers.