The US government just banned Roombas

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/STKB341_IROBOT_CVIRGINIA_A_514bad.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">When the Trump administration announced yesterday that <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/972259/us-foreign-robots-power-inverter-ban">it was banning "advanced robotic devices" from entering the United States</a>, the headlines were all about <em>humanoids</em>. But spying doesn't require legs - and neither does the FCC's robot ban. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The robot ban will sweep up robot vacuum cleaners too<em>,</em> FCC media relations director Katie Gorscak confirms to <em>The Verge.</em> </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">It's not coming for your existing Roomba, and companies can keep importing and selling already approved ones. But the government claims that future foreign robots pose a national security risk, and even robovac companies are suddenly being asked to commit to US manufacturing. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Whi …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/972312/us-robot-ban-sweep-up-chinese-vacuums">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>