Republican Senator Rick Scott has put forth a bill demanding a US government evaluation of potential national security risks posed by various Chinese technology companies. The legislation, named the “Blocking CCP Spy Tech Act of 2026,” specifically targets a group of Chinese firms known as the “Six Little Dragons,” which includes companies like DeepSeek, Game Science, and Unitree Robotics, among others. These companies, based in Hangzhou, China, are viewed as integral to Beijing’s advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital technologies.
The proposed bill mandates US national security officials to conduct a thorough investigation within a year to determine if the products or services offered by these Chinese companies pose any threats to US national security or public safety. If found to be risky, these firms could be placed on the Federal Communications Commission’s “Covered List,” which identifies communication equipment and services deemed security hazards. This move comes amidst heightened US scrutiny of Chinese tech companies due to concerns regarding surveillance, data privacy, and their ties to the Chinese government.
Senator Scott emphasized the need to prevent companies associated with the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army from gaining significant access to American markets. He stated, “Communist China is not our friend. They have chosen to be our enemies and want to destroy us. That’s why it’s imperative that we ensure that any company or entity connected with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the CCP are not given unfettered access to the US economy.”
The Senator’s office highlighted reports alleging that Unitree Robotics had integrated an undisclosed remote access tunnel named “CloudSail” into its robotics systems, potentially enabling connections to servers in China. Concerns were also raised about BrainCo, a neurotechnology company that reportedly gathered brainwave activity data and tested headsets on students at a Boston school in 2019. Additionally, BrainCo collaborated with several Chinese universities identified by the US as linked to China’s defense industry.
Senator Tom Cotton, a supporter of the bill, echoed concerns about the risks posed by Chinese technology to American privacy and security. He stated, “Chinese technology threatens Americans’ privacy and national security. Our bill would ban any Chinese technology that poses an unacceptable risk to security and safety from being sold in the United States.”
