WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The Federal

Communications Commission on Thursday proposed to fine

Chinese-based video doorbell manufacturer Eken nearly $735,000

for providing false information and after security concerns were

raised.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel cited news reports alleging

that Eken's video doorbells exposed users' home IP addresses and

WiFi network names and allowed access to photos and videos from

household cameras by outside parties.

The FCC said "such remote access to extremely private and

personal data was apparently available after a series of very

simple steps performed by anyone in proximity to the cameras."

The FCC said the company's U.S. agent's address was false.

She said the doorbells were sold by online retailers including

Amazon.com ( AMZN ) and Walmart ( WMT ).

Eken could not immediately be reached for comment and the

Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.

Earlier this year, Republican Senator Marco Rubio raised

concerns about the doorbells saying "the inadequate security of

these products enables hackers to violate users' privacy by

accessing videos and images of their homes."

The U.S. registered agent for Eken had an address for a

mailbox that had been inactive since 2019. The FCC said its

investigation into Eken's equipment remains ongoing.

Citing the issues surrounding Eken and other Chinese

equipment manufacturing companies, Rosenworcel also announced an

audit of hundreds of certifications that used the same U.S.

designated agent information as Eken.

She said of the video doorbells "the potential for abuse

is vast -- from threat to domestic violence to state-sanctioned

surveillance by malicious state actors."

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said insecure "Internet

of Things" devices "pose a real and tangible threat to

Americans." In March, he wrote major retailers urging them to

stop selling the devices.

The FCC previously banned new equipment authorizations

for Chinese telecommunications and video surveillance equipment

on an FCC national security list among a series of steps aimed

at Chinese telecom.

The Commerce Department

has proposed banning

Chinese connected vehicle software that would effectively

ban Chinese cars from U.S. roads.