US lawmakers on Thursday introduced the Chip Security Act – a new bill that would require manufacturers to outfit high-end AI computer chips with location tracking to prevent the advanced technology from getting in the hands of rogue governments, like China and Russia, according to ”cybernews.com” .
If passed, the new legislation would require high-end chip manufacturers, like Nvidia and AMD, to implement “technical security measures” allowing the US government to detect and prevent the chips from making their way into “unauthorized countries and end users,” specifically zeroing in on China.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Congress members Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) and Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), including members from the House Select Committee on China, says the new bill is in response to ongoing reports of AI chips being smuggled into China.
The lawmakers say Beijing is using the restricted technology to power state-controlled AI projects, undermining US leadership in artificial intelligence and presenting a clear risk to national security.
What’s in the bill?
The Chinese Communist Party has continued to „exploit weaknesses in the US export control enforcement system by using shell companies and smuggling networks” to commandeer the sensitive technology for their own use, said House Committee Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI), one of the co-sponsors of the bill.
Beijing has been using the AI chips „to advance the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and extend its surveillance capabilities to further its repression,” Moolenaar said.
Thursday’s press release laid out four measures chip manufacturers would be required to adhere to once the legislation is enacted:
- Location Verification – All high-end AI chips must have the ability “to identify their location before they are exported.”
- Mandatory Reporting – Any company exporting the sensitive AI technology would be beholden to report “any credible information” regarding a change in location or a discovery that the chips have been diverted from their intended destination.
- Additional Technical Requirements – The US Commerce Secretary will be tasked with assessing “second-level security mechanisms to prevent the misuse or diversion” of the AI chips.
- Enforcement – The US Commerce Secretary will be given “enforcement capabilities” to verify exported chips are not being diverted.
Read the full art. on ”cybernews.com” .
Foto: ”freepik.com”
