The US telecommunications authority FCC is pushing an import ban on routers from foreign manufacturers — claiming it will strengthen national cybersecurity. A public policy professor sees it differently: "It is industrial policy, disguised as cybersecurity."
The Arguments for the Ban
Proponents, including US router manufacturer Netgear, argue that routers from China and other countries could contain backdoors. Supply chain risks are real, and the US must protect its critical infrastructure.
The Counterarguments
The professor argues that a blanket import ban would make the US less secure, not more. It would reduce competition, leading to less innovation in security features. It would increase prices, causing consumers and small businesses to use older, insecure devices longer. And it does not address the actual vulnerabilities: poor configuration, missing updates, and inadequate patch management.
Netgear has actively lobbied for the ban — raising the question of whether the motivation is security or market protection.
Relevance for Europe
Europe is discussing similar questions in the context of the Cyber Resilience Act and the NIS2 Directive. The approach so far has been more focused on certification and standards than on import bans. Whether that is more effective remains to be seen.
Source: The Register (30.03.2026).