China Cloud Access Targeted

A bill has been introduced in Congress to close a loophole in U.S. export control laws that is being exploited by China, according to its sponsors.   The Remote Access Security Act will ensure China can no longer access this tech through the cloud.

The bill was introduced by Reps Mike Lawler (R-NY), Jeff Jackson (D-NC), Rich McCormick (R-GA), and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)

While the U.S. has recently prohibited the export of advanced semiconductor chips to Chinese companies, these companies have been circumventing this prohibition by accessing this tech remotely and using it to develop AI and modernize China’s military forces, the sponsors assert.

"China is our number one geopolitical foe and should have absolutely no way to access and steal American tech for their own nefarious purposes," said Mr. Lawler. "With China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea working in unison to disrupt and dismantle the free world, the Remote Access Security Act will ensure we aren't inadvertently giving them the tools to do so."

In a related development, Microsoft asked up to 800 of its cloud and AI employees in China to consider relocating to other countries, according to the Wall Street Journal.

[link to Bill]