# FCC bans two US devices over Huawei‑linked AI chip

> The FCC used a new rule to block a dash‑cam and a wireless video transmitter that contain Huawei subsidiary HiSilicon’s AI‑enabled chip.

Oossa · 2026-10-23 · https://oossa.com/en/fcc-bans-two-us-devices-over-huawei-linked-ai-chip

The Federal Communications Commission has for the first time used a new chip‑level rule to stop two products from being sold in the United States. The ban covers a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter that both use the HiSilicon Smart Vision SoC. The rule lets the FCC target the internal chip rather than the brand name, aiming to close a loophole where re‑branded devices could still contain risky components.

## What the chip does

The HiSilicon Smart Vision SoC – specifically the Hi3516CV610 UHD model – is built for surveillance gear. It combines Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, video encoding, an Arm Cortex‑A7 CPU and an NPU, a neural processing unit that runs AI functions such as face detection. Because HiSilicon is a subsidiary of Huawei, which sits on the FCC’s Covered List of entities deemed a national‑security risk, the FCC says the NPU makes the chip a “smart” component that must be blocked.

## Impact of the ban

Manufacturers will need to replace the HiSilicon chip or redesign their products before they can be marketed in the US. Consumers looking for dash‑cams or wireless CCTV transmitters will have to choose models that use a different processor. The FCC’s new approach could affect other devices that embed similar Chinese‑made AI chips, even if the overall product brand is US‑based.

## The facts

- The FCC used a new rule that bans devices based on the chips they contain, not just the brand.
- Two devices were banned: a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter.
- Both devices contain the HiSilicon Smart Vision SoC (Hi3516CV610 UHD).
- The chip includes an NPU that runs face‑detection algorithms.
- HiSilicon is a subsidiary of Huawei, which is on the FCC’s Covered List.

## Why it matters

If you were planning to buy a dash‑cam or a wireless CCTV transmitter, you may find those models unavailable in US stores because of the chip ban. The rule means any future product that uses a similar Chinese AI chip could also be blocked, pushing manufacturers to source alternative components.

## Sources & references

1. [FCC bans first two devices from the US under new chip-level rule](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/fcc-bans-first-two-devices-from-the-us-under-new-chip-level-rule-huawei-subsidiary-chip-boasts-face-detection-algorithm) – Tom's Hardware, 2026-10-23

Last updated: 2026-10-23