The U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) has added 28 Chinese organizations to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Entity List, a move that effectively cuts off these entities from directly or indirectly acquiring hardware, software, and technology subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These new restrictions are effective upon publication of the notice in the Federal Register, which is scheduled for October 9, 2019.
The Chinese organizations include commercial and government-owned entities that specialize in artificial intelligence and other technologies deployed for surveillance purposes. Twenty of the organizations are government entities affiliated with the XUAR People’s Government Public Security Bureau. Commerce determined that eight commercial companies “are enabling activities contrary to the foreign policy interests of the United States.” Among the companies identified are Hikvision, Dahua Technology, and SenseTime, which are some of the world’s largest and most advanced manufacturers of video surveillance products.