The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 43-3 on Wednesday to approve a bill that looks to prevent foreign adversaries from exploiting U.S. artificial intelligence systems and other emerging technologies.
The committee’s vote sends the bill to the full House for further consideration.
The Enhancing National Frameworks for Overseas Critical Exports (ENFORCE) Act – introduced earlier this month by committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas – would authorize the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to use export controls on AI and other national security-related emerging tech that could potentially be used by foreign adversaries in the future.
The bill would modernize the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, which provides statutory export control authority.
“This legislation provides BIS the flexibility to craft appropriate controls on closed AI systems, without stifling U.S. innovation or affecting open-source models,” Chairman McCaul said during Wednesday’s markup.
“Additionally, it provides BIS the authority to restrict American AI labs or companies from working with the [Chinese Communist Party] – who would use this technology against America’s national security interests,” he added.
For instance, the bill could allow BIS to require U.S. AI labs to implement security checks before collaborating with AI labs linked to the Chinese military.
It would also enable BIS to require licenses for the export of covered AI systems or other emerging tech – allowing BIS to stop transfers to China.
“Without the ENFORCE Act, we stand [perilously] exposed to a host of threats. It’s a loophole in our laws, and it’s a dangerous one,” Rep. McCaul said. “Our top AI companies could inadvertently fuel China’s technological ascent, empowering their military and malign ambition.”
“As the CCP looks to expand their technological advancements to enhance their surveillance state and war machine, it is critical that we protect our sensitive technology from falling into their hands,” he concluded.
