Blocking CCP Spy Tech Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4586
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-09T23:17:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation requires a federal review of communications equipment and services from specific Chinese-linked entities to assess risks to U.S. national security. It aims to block or restrict items deemed unacceptable threats, building on existing laws for secure communications networks.
Key Provisions
- An appropriate national security agency must complete a risk determination within one year for equipment and services from the listed entities.
- The entities include Game Science Interactive Co., Ltd.; Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Basic Technology Research Co., Ltd. (DeepSeek); Hangzhou Yushu Technology Co., Ltd. (Unitree Robotics); Hangzhou Yunshenchu Technology Co., Ltd. (DEEP Robotics); BrainCo, Inc.; Manycore Tech, Inc.; and their subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, joint ventures, or licensees.
- If an agency finds an unacceptable risk, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must add the items to the "covered list" within 30 days and report to Congress.
- If no determination is made on time, the FCC automatically adds the items to the covered list.
- Negative risk findings require reports to Congress and reviews by other agencies within 180 days.
- The Secretary of Defense must also assess whether any listed entities qualify as Chinese military companies under existing annual review processes.
- All reports to Congress must be unclassified, though classified annexes are allowed.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill expands the "covered list" process from the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 by mandating review of these new entities. It introduces automatic inclusion if agencies miss deadlines and requires parallel military company identification under the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases workload for the FCC, intelligence agencies, and the Department of Defense in conducting reviews and reporting.
- Citizens: May limit access to products from the named companies if added to the covered list, affecting communications options while aiming to enhance security.
- International relations: Could strain U.S.-China ties by targeting specific firms and reinforcing restrictions on Chinese technology.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. federal agencies, including the FCC, Department of Defense, and intelligence community.
- The six named companies and their related entities.
- U.S. consumers and businesses that use communications equipment.
- Congress, through required reporting.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill relies on executive agency determinations and FCC authority under prior statutes, potentially raising questions about due process for affected companies. It reflects ongoing efforts to address foreign technology risks without creating new constitutional conflicts, though it could invite legal challenges if entities dispute inclusion on the covered list.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN], Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
- 2026-05-20: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Blocking CCP Spy Tech Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-20 — PDF (6 pages)