FCC Blocks Two Gadgets Over HiVision Surveillance Chip

Overview

• The FCC used a new authority to block two devices after identifying their chip as the HiVision Hi3516CV610, a camera system-on-chip the agency says is marketed for surveillance and has face-detection features.
• The move follows a rule change the FCC adopted on October 13 that lets it refuse authorization for gadgets containing chips made by companies on its Covered List.
• The agency publicly named the chip and HiVision’s link to Huawei but did not disclose which specific products were blocked or provide further public comment.
• Critics and industry observers have raised questions about transparency and practical impact, noting the action could disrupt small manufacturers, importers and online marketplaces that sell camera modules and dashcam kits.
• The action builds on earlier FCC steps to curb equipment tied to national security risks and could trigger legal challenges, supply‑chain shifts, and closer scrutiny of camera chips used in consumer devices.