At the Intersection of Technology, Law, and Business
October 10, 2019 - Artificial Intelligence, Asia

Commerce Adds 28 Chinese Organizations to the Entity List for Associations with Human Rights Violations and Abuses

Watch Out: The Federal Trade Commission Continues to Watch the (Alleged) Watchers

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. The full list of designated organizations can be found at the end of our alert.