TECH NEWS

Lawmakers press Commerce to restrict Americans from aiding foreign spy agencies

Finn Gomez/Getty Images

ByDavid DiMolfetta,
Cybersecurity Reporter, Nextgov/FCW

August 25, 2026 02:44 PM ET

A bipartisan group says unfinished export control rules leave civilian intelligence services able to obtain U.S. cyber, surveillance and AI assistance.

A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers is pressing the Commerce Department to finalize rules restricting Americans and U.S. companies from providing technology or technical assistance to civilian intelligence agencies in China, Russia and other foreign adversaries.

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; John Cornyn, R-Texas; and Peter Welch, D-Vt.; along with Reps. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C.; Sara Jacobs, D-Calif.; and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, made the request Tuesday in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

“Foreign intelligence agencies in many countries can still legally hire consultants in the United States and buy advanced U.S. surveillance, cyber, and artificial intelligence technology,” they wrote.

In 2019, a landmark Reuters investigationexposed Project Raven, a...

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A bipartisan group says unfinished export control rules leave civilian intelligence services able to obtain U.S. cyber, surveillance and AI assistance.

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