New Effort to Stop Bad Actors from Acquiring Advanced Technologies
A new strike force is launching to protect advanced technologies like AI, quantum computing, and supercomputing, from falling into the hands of autocrats and malicious actors around the globe. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force was set up by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Commerce.
The goal is to stop adversaries such as the People’s Republic of China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea from acquiring advanced technologies and using them for nefarious activities such as supporting mass surveillance programs and enhancing military capabilities.
“[Bad actors] want to acquire technology by any means possible — not only to fuel surveillance and repression at home and abroad, but to gain strategic dominance,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco at a Chatham House event in London.
DOJ says the emerging technologies could threaten U.S. national security as adversaries could use them for a variety of purposes including improving speed and accuracy in intelligence gathering, improving weapons design and testing, and breaking top-secret codes.
The strike force is made up of the DOJ National Security Division, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and 14 U.S. Attorneys’ offices. It’s charged with targeting illicit actors, protecting critical technological assets from falling in the wrong hands, and strengthening supply chains.
DOJ National Security Division Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen and Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod are co-heads of the strike force.
“We must remain vigilant in enforcing export control laws, which defend military readiness, preserve our technology superiority over our adversaries, and help to protect human rights and democratic values,” said Assistant Attorney General Olsen.
Besides investigating and prosecuting criminal cases involving export laws, the strike force is also charged with enhancing enforcement of U.S. export controls, fostering private sector partnerships, leveraging international law enforcement partnerships, using advanced data analytics to improve investigations, conducting training, and strengthening connectivity between the strike force and the U.S. intelligence community.
“Advances in technology have the potential to alter the world’s balance of power,” stated Assistant Secretary Axelrod. “This strike force is designed to protect U.S. national security by preventing those sensitive technologies from being used for malign purposes.”