The Commerce Department this week announced its National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, whose AI experts will provide recommendations on AI policy. The 27-member committee, which will hold its first meeting May 4, includes industry and academic officials from Google, Microsoft, Cornell University and Stanford University. The NAIAC's formation comes amid Commerce's efforts to propose new export controls on a range of emerging technologies, including AI and AI-powered products.
The Swiss Federal Council adopted the EU's fifth sanctions package on Russia and Belarus following their invasion of Ukraine, the council said in an April 13 news release. Restrictions include a ban on coal imports and other Russian goods such as wood, seafood and vodka; an export ban on kerosene and other goods; and a ban on Russian companies from participating in public procurement. The sanctions also included a ban on Russian and Belarusian road transport from taking place within the EU. However, Switzerland neglected to impose this restriction, which it said is unnecessary, given its geographic location.
The Commerce Department is investigating U.S. software company Synopsys for possibly violating U.S. export controls against China, Bloomberg reported April 13. Commerce is looking into whether Synopsys, the world’s leading supplier of semiconductor design software, worked with Chinese affiliates to provide chip designs and software to Huawei Technologies’ HiSilicon unit for manufacture at Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, the report said. Both companies are subject to Entity List licensing restrictions.
The U.S. should be careful not to impose strict export controls on quantum technologies that risk hampering academic research and domestic innovation, quantum tech experts told the Center for Strategic and International Studies April 14. They also said the U.S. should allow for an open academic environment that encourages foreign researchers to enter and stay in the U.S. or risk losing those researchers to other countries, such as China.
The Bureau of Industry and Security added 10 more planes to its list of restricted aircraft, including seven planes owned by Belavia, the first Belarusian airline added to the list, the agency said April 14. The agency also added two additional planes owned by Utair and one aircraft owned by Aeroflot. BIS said it will impose penalties and/or jail time or revoke export privileges for any company or person who violates the Export Administration Regulations by providing “any form of service” to the listed aircraft without a required BIS license.
The U.K. revoked the General License for GEFCO under the Russian sanctions regime following the sale of Russian Railways' position in GEFCO, a joint venture between Russian Railways and Stellantis. The license permitted business operations with the joint venture or its subsidiaries, but after Russian Railways' sale of its stake on April 8, GEFCO is no longer subject to U.K. sanctions. Also on April 8, French shipping group CMA CGM announced it had acquired nearly 100% of GEFCO, an auto transport company.
Xiaojian Tao and Yu Lang, residents of Helotes, Texas, were arrested for alleged export violations and their role in a scheme to defraud an unnamed research and development company, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas said. Tao is charged with one count each of illegal export of defense articles, illegally exporting commerce-controlled goods and making a false statement over the Export Control Reform Act. Both he and Yu are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office said April 12.
Andrew Adams, head of DOJ's "KleptoCapture" task force, charged with enforcing the deluge of Russia sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, is targeting the personal assets of Vladimir Putin and his family, Adams told Bloomberg. Adams said this can be done by targeting individuals who have agreed to hold assets on his behalf.
Virgil Griffith, a U.S. citizen, was sentenced to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to aid North Korea in evading U.S. sanctions via cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said. Griffith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
President Joe Biden this week extended the national emergency that authorizes certain sanctions against Russia under an executive order issued last year (see 2104150019). The emergency was extended for one year from April 15.