On October 13th, Brendan Carr’s FCC granted itself the authority to block electronics containing computer chips from companies listed as potential threats to national security. The agency is now using that power for the first time, stating that it is blocking two gadgets because they contain foreign surveillance chips, according to The Verge.
Key takeaways
- The FCC is blocking two gadgets for containing foreign surveillance chips for the first time.
- The targeted component is the HiVision Hi3516CV610 UHD Smart Vision SoC.
- HiVision is a subsidiary of Huawei, which is on the FCC Covered List.
- The action closes a loophole that allowed banned company products inside other gadgets.
What are foreign surveillance chips?
The FCC points to the HiVision Hi3516CV610 UHD Smart Vision SoC as the surveillance chip in question. This processor turns a raw camera sensor into devices like dashcams or home security cameras. Listings on AliExpress show it is frequently sold bundled with a Sony camera sensor and occasionally a lens.
The agency labels it a foreign surveillance chip because HiVision promotes it as built for the surveillance market with built-in detection algorithms for human faces. Also, HiVision is owned by Huawei, which was named a national security risk by the US government.
Closing the FCC security ban loophole
Huawei is on the FCC Covered List, and this new regulatory power helps close a loophole allowing banned companies to sneak products inside other brands' hardware. The agency previously granted itself similar abilities to retroactively ban gadgets and restrict modular radio transmitters.
What happens next?
Questions remain regarding whether the agency is actually keeping people safer or simply picking winners and losers through enforcement actions. The Verge reports that the agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment and has repeatedly declined to discuss its efforts.
Frequently asked questions
Brendan Carr’s FCC gave itself the power to block gadgets containing computer chips from potential national security threat lists on October 13th.
The agency named the HiVision Hi3516CV610 UHD Smart Vision SoC as the specific chip driving the ban.
The chip is made by HiVision, which operates as a subsidiary of Huawei.
The FCC states the chip was advertised by HiVision for the surveillance market with built-in human face detection algorithms.
The agency did not disclose the exact identities of the two gadgets it chose to block.
Based on reporting by The Verge. Read the original article
