The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Friday it has opened an investigation into several Chinese technology and telecommunications firms, including Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision, China Mobile, China Telecom, and others, over concerns they may be attempting to circumvent existing U.S. restrictions.
These companies have been placed on the FCC’s “Covered List,” which identifies entities and equipment deemed to pose a threat to national security. Despite the designation, FCC Chair Brendan Carr expressed concern that some of these firms may still be operating within the United States under legal loopholes or misinterpretations of the restrictions.
Carr stated that these companies may believe the designation does not apply to certain operations or business models, potentially allowing them to continue activities that could undermine U.S. security frameworks.
Additional companies under the FCC’s investigation include Hytera Communications, Dahua Technology, Pacifica Networks/ComNet, and China Unicom Americas.
The FCC’s ongoing scrutiny reflects growing bipartisan efforts in Washington to curb the influence of foreign technology firms viewed as potential threats to critical infrastructure and data privacy.