FCC blocks first devices over Huawei-linked surveillance chip concerns
The FCC used a new authority for the first time to reject two devices containing a HiVision chip it considers a national-security concern. The agency says the component, made by a Huawei subsidiary, is marketed for surveillance and includes face-detection features. The FCC did not identify the affected products.
The FCC’s action marks the first use of authority it adopted on October 13, allowing it to reject gadgets that contain chips from companies deemed national-security risks. The two rejected devices carried a HiVision Hi3516CV610 UHD Smart Vision SoC, a component that converts camera sensor data into usable video for security cameras, dashcams, and similar products.
HiVision, a Huawei subsidiary, markets the chip for surveillance use and highlights built-in human-face detection. Huawei appears on the FCC’s Covered List. The agency did not name the affected devices. The new power is meant to prevent restricted components from being included inside another company’s products.
The decision could affect makers of cameras, dashcams, and connected home devices that rely on vision chips, along with retailers and consumers who may see fewer products or higher prices. It may also push manufacturers to audit component sourcing more closely. Because the FCC did not name the devices, the immediate practical impact is unclear, and broader effects may depend on how often the agency uses this authority.