A group of bipartisan US lawmakers has put forth a bill that could prohibit Chinese-manufactured robots from entering the American market. The legislation, known as the Guarding the US Against Adversarial Robotics Dominance (GUARD) Act, mandates a review of humanoid and quadruped robots made in China and other designated foreign adversary nations. Robots identified as posing security risks would be prevented from being imported into the US, with products not reviewed within a year facing automatic restrictions.
The bill, introduced by Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, and Congressman Jay Obernolte, aims to address potential national security threats posed by Chinese technologies. McClellan emphasized the importance of safeguarding against risks that could harm individuals, particularly vulnerable populations like children, as countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea develop new methods to undermine safety.
Under the proposed legislation, US national security agencies would evaluate foreign-made robotic systems to determine if they could be exploited for espionage or activities detrimental to American interests. Any identified threats would be listed on the Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List, effectively prohibiting their use within the US. Moolenaar highlighted concerns about Chinese robotics companies, citing security and economic challenges they present to the US.
Obernolte stressed the need to secure advanced robotics technologies as they become more integrated into various sectors. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the communication equipment and services supporting these systems are secure and not susceptible to exploitation by foreign adversaries. The supporters of the bill drew parallels to past US actions against Chinese telecommunications equipment and drone manufacturers, warning of potential vulnerabilities posed by advanced robots capable of autonomous functions and data collection.
