Two Republican senators in the United States have proposed a new bill that plans to expand the authority of the United States Department of Commerce to limit foreign rival countries ' access to United States artificial intelligence technology. The sponsors were Tim Scott, Chairman of the Senate Banking Commission, and Bill Hagtti, author of the GENIUS stabilization currency bill.
To expand the authority of the Department of Commerce
Under the terms of the Act, the Department of Commerce may block transactions involving related technologies. If these technologies are designed, developed, manufactured or supplied by persons or entities under the control, direction or possession of the foreign counterparty, the transaction may be halted.
Scott stated that the American public should not be concerned about the use of technology in cars, mobile phones or communication networks by China or Russia to threaten the United States. Reports mention that the countries currently identified by the United States as foreign opponents include Russia, China, Iran and the DPRK.
Focus AI and supply chain security
The bill places AI technology protection and information and communications supply chain security within the same framework. The bill also provides for the incorporation into law of the post of Assistant Minister for the Information and Communication Technology Supply Chain within the Ministry of Commerce and its supervision and enforcement.
The report notes that progress in China ' s science and technology industry and AI is one of the key contexts for this legislation. Russia, for its part, has long had frictions with the United States over cyber security issues.
Keep open source access
While the restrictions are being strengthened, the bill also proposes to maintain public access to open-source AI software. This shows that the proponents are trying to retain some space between national security reviews and the flow of open-source technologies.
However, from the parliamentary agenda, the bill has limited space to advance in the short term. The United States Congress is now approaching its summer recess, and the medium-term election factor is rising. Unless subsequently incorporated into the bill that must be passed, its independence will be more difficult to advance.