The US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is calling for comments as it considers export controls on a broad swathe of high-tech technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and microprocessor technologies.
The controls relate to military and defence, but observers have reportedly said the move is targeting China as a trade war heats up. Big tech firms have long been vocal against such moves because of how it could affect other industries.
The BIS is seeking comment on:
- how to define emerging technology to assist identification of such technology in the future;
- criteria to apply to determine whether there are specific technologies within these general categories that are important to national security;
- sources to identify such technologies;
- other general technology categories that warrant review to identify emerging technology that are important to US national security;
- the status of development of these technologies in the US and other countries;
- the impact specific emerging technology controls would have on US technological leadership;
- any other approaches to the issue of identifying emerging technologies important to US national security, including the stage of development or maturity level of an emerging technology that would warrant consideration for export control.