The FCC banned two devices from the US market under a new chip-level rule, marking the first enforcement action based on internal components rather than brand names. The banned products—a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter—contain the HiSilicon Smart Vision SoC featuring built-in face detection algorithms. HiSilicon, a subsidiary of Huawei, appears on the FCC's Covered List of entities deemed to pose national security risks. The new rule closes a loophole that previously allowed rebranded products containing components from Chinese manufacturers on the Covered List to enter the US market.
Hi3516CV610 SoC Features Face Detection and AI Tracking
The Hi3516CV610 UHD Smart Vision SoC is designed for surveillance and camera products including vehicle dashcams and wireless CCTV systems. The chip integrates WiFi, Ethernet, video encoding capabilities, an Arm Cortex-A7 processor, and an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for AI features. The SoC's Intelligent Video Engine (IVE) uses the NPU to run a built-in dedicated multimodal large model and transformer feature acceleration. The transformer feature acceleration enables the AI model to understand relationships between objects across video frames, maintaining attention on pets, faces, human figures, and parcels as advertised in the data sheet. For consumer applications, this technology allows surveillance cameras to distinguish between a pet escaping and an unknown person stealing a parcel after identifying its delivery by a courier worker.
FCC Cites Foreign Surveillance Concerns Over Logic-Bearing AI
The FCC identified the NPU as a device containing logic-bearing "smart" components produced by entities on the Covered List. The agency expressed concern that the logic-bearing AI in the SoC could conduct surveillance of US citizens and log faces for foreign intelligence purposes. Huawei and its subsidiaries remain on the FCC's Covered List of entities that pose a risk to US national security.
Huawei Previously Deceived TSMC Into Producing AI Chips
Huawei used shell companies to deceive TSMC into producing AI chips, violating the US request for TSMC to halt supplies to a list of Chinese customers. This incident represents one of multiple Huawei scandals that led to product bans in the US.
FAQ
What did the FCC ban under the new chip-level rule?
The FCC banned two devices from the US market: a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter. Both devices contain the HiSilicon Smart Vision SoC, which features built-in face detection algorithms.
Why did the FCC ban devices containing the HiSilicon chip?
The FCC banned the devices because the Hi3516CV610 SoC contains an NPU with logic-bearing AI components. HiSilicon is a subsidiary of Huawei, which appears on the FCC's Covered List of entities that pose national security risks. The agency expressed concern that the AI could be used for foreign surveillance of US citizens.
What AI capabilities does the banned chip have?
The Hi3516CV610 SoC features an NPU that runs a multimodal large model with transformer feature acceleration. The AI can track objects across video frames, maintaining attention on pets, faces, human figures, and parcels according to the chip's data sheet.
