New Bill Targets Chinese Tech Security Risks
On Wednesday, Senator Rick Scott from Florida introduced legislation aimed at requiring national security agencies to assess whether telecommunications gear and services tied to a group of rapidly expanding Chinese tech firms represent an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the safety of Americans. If these agencies don’t complete their evaluations promptly, affected equipment could end up on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) high-risk list.
The FCC’s Subject List, created under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, is publicly accessible and includes information about high-risk communications equipment and services, intended to monitor and restrict their usage.
Scott’s proposed legislation, named the Stop the Chinese Communist Party Espionage Technology Act of 2026, was introduced alongside Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas. It specifically targets a group of six tech companies based in Hangzhou, known informally as the “Six Little Dragons”: Game Science, Deep Seek, Unitree Robotics, Deep Robotics, Brainco, and Manycore Tech. The proposed law would also apply to any telecommunications equipment or services provided by the subsidiaries, affiliates, or joint ventures of these companies.
The bill allows the relevant national security agencies to carry out assessments one year after its enactment to determine if the designated entities’ telecommunications equipment or services pose an unacceptable risk. Should those agencies deem them risky, the FCC would be required to add those items to the Covered List within 30 days and report the determination to the appropriate Congressional committee.
If the required evaluations aren’t carried out within the stipulated year, the FCC would need to add the equipment and services to this list within another 30-day period. On the other hand, if an agency concludes that the equipment is not a risk, it must inform Congress, giving other national security agencies 180 days to review this decision and report back.
The bill also instructs the Secretary of Defense, during the annual review mandated by the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, to decide if the companies in question should be classified as Chinese military enterprises operating within the U.S.
Scott expressed serious concerns about the dangers posed by Chinese companies, stating that “Communist China is not our friend,” emphasizing the necessity of limiting access to the U.S. economy for entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party or the People’s Liberation Army. He believes that prohibiting these companies from the U.S. market would help American businesses thrive and prevent China from exploiting American workers.
In a similar vein, Cotton mentioned that the proposed legislation would safeguard American privacy and national security from the threats posed by Chinese technology.
A press release provided details about Unitree Robotics and BrainCo, highlighting that Unitree has reportedly developed a hidden remote access feature in its robotics, potentially linking its products to Chinese servers. BrainCo has also been accused of collecting data related to brainwave activity, which it previously tested on schoolchildren in the U.S.
This bill, which went into effect on May 6, 2025, has led to calls for a federal investigation into Unitree’s connections to the Chinese military and its compliance with U.S. security regulations. Concerns have been raised about the military-grade capabilities of Unitree’s technology and the implications of its operational use in sensitive areas like law enforcement and defense.
Senator Scott’s bill is part of a broader set of initiatives he has launched regarding China, national security, and cybersecurity. He and Representative Andy Ogles recently discussed the pressing need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in light of threats linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
These ongoing investigations and legislative efforts underscore the intense scrutiny and apprehension surrounding foreign technology companies in the U.S., particularly those with ties to China.
