East Michigan News

As the House Select Committee on China convenes for a significant hearing titled "Authoritarians and Algorithms: Why U.S. AI Must Lead," new bipartisan legislation has been introduced to address concerns over the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) use of artificial intelligence.

Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) announced the introduction of the "No Adversarial AI Act" in the House. This bill, also supported in the Senate by Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Gary Peters (D-MI), aims to prevent U.S. executive agencies from using AI developed by companies linked to foreign adversaries such as the CCP. The legislation is backed by a bipartisan group of Select Committee members, including Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Darin LaHood (R-IL).

"We are in a new Cold War—and AI is the strategic technology at the center," said Chairman Moolenaar. "The CCP doesn’t innovate—it steals, scales, and subverts. From IP theft and chip smuggling to embedding AI in surveillance and military platforms, the Chinese Communist Party is racing to weaponize this technology. We must draw a clear line: U.S. government systems cannot be powered by tools built to serve authoritarian interests."

The proposed legislation includes several key measures:

- A public list of AI systems developed by foreign adversaries will be maintained and updated by the Federal Acquisition Security Council.

- Executive agencies will be prohibited from acquiring or using adversary-developed AI, except in specific cases such as research, counterterrorism, or mission-critical needs.

- A delisting process will be established for companies that can prove they are free from foreign adversary control or influence.

"Artificial intelligence controlled by foreign adversaries poses a direct threat to our national security, our data, and our government operations," said Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi. "We cannot allow hostile regimes to embed their code in our most sensitive systems."

Senator Rick Scott emphasized the need for protection against potential threats from China: "The Communist Chinese regime will use any means necessary to spy, steal, and undermine the United States... Our No Adversarial AI Act will stop this direct threat to our national security."

This legislative move is part of a broader campaign by the Select Committee aimed at securing U.S. AI supply chains, enforcing export controls, and ensuring American innovation does not support authoritarian regimes' surveillance or military capabilities.

Today's hearing and legislation form part of ongoing efforts throughout the summer to address CCP's exploitation of U.S. innovation.