A top House Republican is taking steps to tighten restrictions on China's access to advanced U.S. technology in response to concerns over intellectual property theft. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., has introduced a bill aimed at preventing situations like China's development of DeepSeek using American technology.
Green emphasized the need for safeguards, citing reports that China may have utilized chips below the current export control threshold to advance its AI capabilities. He warned that giving China leeway could lead to further exploitation by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), known for its disregard of legal and security norms.
DeepSeek, an AI software company based in Hangzhou, China, recently unveiled a new AI model similar to ChatGPT from California-based OpenAI. The release of this cost-effective AI model raised concerns in U.S. markets and highlighted issues related to data privacy and CCP censorship practices.
The U.S. Commerce Department is investigating whether DeepSeek violated sanctions by using banned chips. Green's proposed legislation seeks to impose export controls on critical technology and intellectual property destined for China. It also calls for sanctions against foreign entities involved in selling or buying restricted items with China, as well as Chinese entities knowingly utilizing such controlled items.
The bill reflects growing bipartisan efforts to address China's economic competitiveness and safeguard U.S. technological assets. As the U.S. grapples with the rapid advancements in Chinese technology, lawmakers are striving to strike a balance between innovation and national security concerns.
