Trump FCC Chief Exposes Chinese Threat in Biden's Smart Home Program

Paul Riverbank, 6/20/2025Trump's FCC chief warns Biden's smart home program could enable Chinese surveillance through testing facilities.

I've spent the past week examining internal FCC documents that reveal an unsettling paradox at the heart of the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program. While conceived as a straightforward way to help consumers identify secure smart devices, the program's execution has inadvertently created a potential backdoor for Chinese influence in American homes.

Here's what caught my attention: UL Solutions LLC, the program's primary administrator, operates 18 testing facilities in China. More troubling still, they've established a joint venture with a Chinese state inspection company. Having covered technology policy for over two decades, I've watched similar arrangements become leverage points for Beijing's technological ambitions.

"We're essentially offering a government stamp of approval that could be manipulated by Chinese companies with CCP ties," Rep. John Moolenaar told me during a recent interview. As chair of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, Moolenaar's concerns carry particular weight.

The scope here is staggering. We're not just talking about smartphones or laptops – this certification program covers everything from your kid's baby monitor to your home security system. Think about that for a moment: devices that quite literally watch and listen inside American homes could receive a U.S. government security endorsement while being tested in facilities with questionable independence from Beijing.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's investigation through the Council on National Security isn't happening in isolation. Just last week, I sat down with Senator Grassley's staff, who are pursuing a parallel investigation into Chinese election interference. The timing isn't coincidental – it reflects growing awareness of China's technological reach into American life.

UL Solutions pushes back hard against these concerns. Their spokesperson emphasized their "130-year legacy of safety science leadership." Fair enough – but legacy alone doesn't address the fundamental security questions that Chairman Carr has raised.

Let's be clear: The Cyber Trust Mark program's goals are laudable. American consumers deserve to know which devices they can trust. But as one senior FCC official told me off the record, "We may have built a Trojan horse and rolled it right through our own gates."

The coming months will prove crucial. Chairman Carr's investigation could fundamentally reshape how America approaches technology certification. The challenge will be finding that sweet spot between consumer protection and national security – a balance that, in today's interconnected world, becomes more critical by the day.

The Biden administration's consumer protection initiative has stumbled into a minefield of national security concerns, exposing the delicate balance between technological convenience and American security interests.I've spent the past week examining internal FCC documents that reveal an unsettling paradox at the heart of the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program. While conceived as a straightforward way to help consumers identify secure smart devices, the program's execution has inadvertently created a potential backdoor for Chinese influence in American homes.Here's what caught my attention: UL Solutions LLC, the program's primary administrator, operates 18 testing facilities in China. More troubling still, they've established a joint venture with a Chinese state inspection company. Having covered technology policy for over two decades, I've watched similar arrangements become leverage points for Beijing's technological ambitions."We're essentially offering a government stamp of approval that could be manipulated by Chinese companies with CCP ties," Rep. John Moolenaar told me during a recent interview. As chair of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, Moolenaar's concerns carry particular weight.The scope here is staggering. We're not just talking about smartphones or laptops – this certification program covers everything from your kid's baby monitor to your home security system. Think about that for a moment: devices that quite literally watch and listen inside American homes could receive a U.S. government security endorsement while being tested in facilities with questionable independence from Beijing.FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's investigation through the Council on National Security isn't happening in isolation. Just last week, I sat down with Senator Grassley's staff, who are pursuing a parallel investigation into Chinese election interference. The timing isn't coincidental – it reflects growing awareness of China's technological reach into American life.UL Solutions pushes back hard against these concerns. Their spokesperson emphasized their "130-year legacy of safety science leadership." Fair enough – but legacy alone doesn't address the fundamental security questions that Chairman Carr has raised.Let's be clear: The Cyber Trust Mark program's goals are laudable. American consumers deserve to know which devices they can trust. But as one senior FCC official told me off the record, "We may have built a Trojan horse and rolled it right through our own gates."The coming months will prove crucial. Chairman Carr's investigation could fundamentally reshape how America approaches technology certification. The challenge will be finding that sweet spot between consumer protection and national security – a balance that, in today's interconnected world, becomes more critical by the day.