The FCC has added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices, including robot vacuums, to its Covered List, barring new U.S. product authorizations for models manufactured outside the country1,2. The rule takes effect on October 17, 2026.
The restriction is a forward-looking import and authorization block, not a recall: existing inventory, already-authorized models, and devices consumers already own are explicitly carved out. ANALYSIS An FCC spokesperson told Fox 5 New York that the action does not affect a consumer's continued use of previously acquired devices. Reporting indicates existing authorized models should keep receiving security-related software and firmware updates, with one account citing at least through January 1, 2029.
Which brands face exposure
Brands with exposure include Roborock, Dreame, ECOVACS, Narwal, Xiaomi, and potentially Samsung, according to reporting compiled across multiple outlets. Separate coverage from BGR adds Dyson to the list of major brands whose products are built overseas and could require new U.S. authorization. The rule applies based on where a device is produced rather than strictly which country the brand is headquartered in.
The FCC's FAQ reportedly sets the advanced-robotic-device threshold at a combined weight above 4.4 pounds, including the robot and its docking or charging station. The agency's criteria also include sensors that enable obstacle avoidance and smart mapping. The FCC's cited language states that foreign-produced advanced robotic devices "could be weaponized to directly harm US national security and US persons".
The agency's new determination argues that the scale of risk has changed because robot vacuums are more numerous, more sensor-rich, and more deeply networked into homes. The Covered List has previously been used to block new authorizations for networking equipment from companies the U.S. government considered national security risks, and foreign drones were blacklisted in December 2025 for similar security concerns.
Brand responses
Mashable reached out to impacted brands. Shark said its current U.S.-sold robot vacuums "will continue to be available for sale, use, and support". Narwal said products already certified and sold in the United States are not affected. Eufy said the new rule does not affect the continued availability, use, or support of products it currently sells in the United States. iRobot said it is working with the FCC to better understand the action's implementation and potential impact. Shark and iRobot have yet to make a robot vacuum with a two-way livestream camera.
Manufacturers could circumvent the restriction by obtaining special government approval, under which the FCC would decide whether a particular device poses a security threat. Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy can still sell robot vacuums already imported to the U.S..
ANALYSIS The 4.4-pound weight threshold and sensor-capability criteria effectively capture every flagship robot vacuum on the market, since modern models routinely exceed that weight and rely on LiDAR or camera-based mapping. The rule's production-origin basis, rather than brand-headquarters basis, means even non-Chinese brands that manufacture in China face the same authorization barrier.
The FCC's action extends the same Covered List mechanism previously applied to telecom networking gear and drones into consumer robotics, a category where onboard sensors, persistent home mapping, and cloud connectivity create a data-collection surface the agency now treats as equivalent in risk profile.
The FCC's action also added power inverters to its Covered List.