FCC Bans Two Consumer Devices Over Huawei-Linked Chips

Two consumer electronics are no longer legally sold in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission blocked a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter from the market on October 23. This action marks the first time the agency has banned specific products based solely on the internal chips they use, rather than the brand name on the box.

Both devices contain a system on a chip from HiSilicon, a subsidiary of Huawei. Huawei and its related entities are listed on the FCC's Covered List, a roster of companies deemed to pose a risk to US national security. The specific component in question is the Hi3516CV610 UHD Smart Vision chip. This silicon is designed for surveillance and camera hardware. It includes an Arm Cortex-A7 processor, video encoding tools, and a neural processing unit for artificial intelligence functions.

The new rule closes a previous loophole. Under older regulations, manufacturers could rebrand products or change model names to bypass bans on specific Chinese components. By targeting the silicon itself, the FCC can now block any product containing that hardware, regardless of the final product label. The agency stated that the chip contains logic-bearing smart components made by covered entities.

The chip’s data sheet describes an Intelligent Video Engine that runs on the neural processing unit. It uses a built-in multimodal large model to track objects across video frames. The system is designed to distinguish between different subjects, such as pets, human faces, and parcels. For a typical user, this feature allows the camera to tell the difference between a cat running out of a driveway and a stranger taking a delivered package.

The FCC believes the same artificial intelligence capabilities could be used for more intrusive purposes. The agency argued that the logic-bearing AI could survey US citizens and log their faces for foreign surveillance. This concern follows earlier controversies involving Huawei, including the use of shell companies to have TSMC manufacture AI chips despite US export restrictions.

Reactions to the ban have been mixed. Some observers called the move protectionist, while others questioned if US surveillance differs from foreign surveillance. One commenter noted that the Communications Act of 1934 gives the FCC authority over both wired and wireless communications. Another argued that the agency should have targeted silicon from the start due to the many regional variants of a single product.

The FCC has not announced a timeline for reviewing other devices that use similar HiSilicon hardware. The ban on the two specific products is effective immediately, meaning retailers can no longer market them in the US.