ARI-endorsed legislation would tackle AI chip smuggling
Late Wednesday night, the Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Stop Stealing Our Chips Act, ARI-endorsed legislation designed to strengthen enforcement and crack down on the growing smuggling of AI chips and high-performance computing systems to foreign competitors like China.
The bill would establish a whistleblower incentive and protection program within the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), creating a process for individuals to report suspected export control violations. The legislation also includes anti-retaliation protections, confidentiality safeguards, and financial awards for whistleblowers.
“If we want the U.S. to continue to lead on AI, we must stop the networks that are smuggling chips out the country and into the hands of our competitors,” said ARI Executive Director Eric Gastfriend. “This legislation is a major step towards safeguarding American technology, giving the federal government the necessary tools to uncover smuggling operations and strengthen America’s technological and national security advantage. The House should move quickly to pass this bill and send it to President Trump’s desk.”
The House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced the House companion bill last month alongside a broader package of legislation aimed at strengthening and modernizing U.S. export control enforcement.
The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act comes amid growing evidence of the widespread diversion of advanced U.S. technologies, including semiconductors and AI-related systems, to foreign competitors and adversaries in violation of export restrictions.
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Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to policy advocacy in the public interest, focused on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Learn more at ARI.us.