The spy we all bring home: "Can access intimate information"

The US has banned the import of new smart robots manufactured abroad, a move primarily targeting Chinese manufacturers that dominate the market. The reason: cameras and sensors in robotic vacuum cleaners enable the collection of sensitive information about homes and residents' habits. Cybersecurity expert Dr. Harel Menashe warns of the danger and criticizes the lack of vigilance in Israel.

The United States has banned the import of new smart robots manufactured abroad, a move aimed primarily at Chinese manufacturers that dominate the robotic vacuum cleaner market. The ban, part of an update to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) "blacklist," applies to devices controlled by software, weighing over 2 kg with a docking station, moving autonomously, and equipped with a wireless connection. The broad definition may also include robotic lawnmowers and delivery robots. The reason: concerns that cameras and sensors in these devices collect sensitive information about homes and residents' habits, which could fall into the wrong hands. Dr. Harel Menashe, a cybersecurity expert and one of the founders of the Shin Bet's cyber unit, supports the decision and states, "This should have happened long ago." He explains that the vacuums can map homes, gather information about daily routines, and even infiltrate other systems. Menashe warns of the Chinese intelligence-gathering approach, which collects information on everyone everywhere, using Chinese law that requires companies to share information with authorities. In Israel, however, there is currently no parallel move, and Chinese vacuums continue to be sold in large volumes.