Citing national security fears, America is effectively banning any new consumer-grade network routers made abroad.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated its Covered List to include all foreign-made consumer routers, prohibiting the approval of any new models.
For clarification, the FCC says this change does not prevent the import, sale, or use of any existing models that the agency previously authorized.
That Covered List details equipment and services covered by Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act, which, by their inclusion, are deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to US national security.
According to the FCC, this move follows a determination by a “White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise,” in line with President Trump’s National Security Strategy that the US must not be dependent on any other country for core components necessary to the nation’s defense or economy.
Its determination was that foreign-produced routers introduce a supply chain vulnerability which could disrupt critical infrastructure and national defense, and pose a severe cybersecurity risk that could harm Americans.
Yeah, I think this is less about how secure foreign routers are and more about inserting their own backdoors in citizens hardware for surveillance purposes.
mr_anny@sopuli.xyz 2 days ago
Next it’s going to be mandatory for US router manufacturers to leave a hardcoded backdoor for feds to use at any arbitrary reason.
mrbn@lemmy.ca 2 days ago
For the safety of the children you mean /s
mr_anny@sopuli.xyz 2 days ago
Oh yes. That’s what I meant to say. Silly me.
floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 days ago
32 years ago. en.wikipedia.org/…/Communications_Assistance_for_…
captchacrunch@piefed.social 2 days ago
I genuinely thought that was already the case
floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 days ago
It is. CALEA has been around for a long time, and it’s surprising to me not many people are aware of it
mr_anny@sopuli.xyz 2 days ago
If I recollect right they had some backdoor intents for nvidia AI chips.