The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has issued a blocking order for the first time against devices that contain semiconductors from companies viewed as threats to national security. The FCC halted distribution of two devices, citing the presence of “foreign surveillance chips.”

The Verge reported on Oct. 22, local time, that the action marks the first use of authority the FCC newly secured on Oct. 13. The FCC expanded rules to allow it to block devices that contain computer chips made by companies on a list it has designated as potential threats to U.S. security. That means it can bar products even if the finished-device maker is a different company, as long as components from a flagged firm are inside.

The FCC did not disclose the names of the blocked devices. It did, however, single out HiSilicon’s “Hi3516CV610 UHD Smart Vision SoC” as the chip at issue. The chip processes raw data from camera sensors and is used in products such as home security cameras and in-vehicle dashcams. It was introduced as being sold through online distribution channels together with Sony camera sensors and, in some cases, bundled with lenses.

The basis for the FCC’s designation of the chip as a “foreign surveillance chip” was also presented. HiSilicon promotes the product as “designed for the surveillance market” and says it includes a “built-in face detection algorithm.” In addition to those descriptions, the FCC took issue with the fact that HiSilicon is a Huawei subsidiary. Huawei is one of the telecommunications equipment companies the U.S. government initially classified as a national security risk.

The key is blocking indirect routes. Even if products from companies on the FCC’s covered list of national security threats are not sold directly, a path remained for their components to be used inside devices made by other manufacturers. The FCC says the expanded authority is intended to close that gap.

The FCC has previously widened its regulatory scope in a similar way. It secured authority to retroactively ban devices already on the market, and it also put in place authority to block modular radio transmitters. The latest action extends that approach by expanding scrutiny from finished devices to the component level.

Debate remains over how effective the measure will be. The Verge noted continuing questions about whether the FCC is actually improving safety or simply showing enforcement while picking winners and losers. The FCC did not immediately respond to requests for specific information on the two blocked devices or for additional explanation.

The industry is therefore expected to focus on the scope of future blocking targets and the criteria the FCC will disclose. With regulation expanding to cases where chips from covered-list companies such as Huawei are installed in third-party products, the impact on supply chains for cameras and network-connected devices is expected to grow.