Senators Move to Ban Chinese Robots From Federal Government Use

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the third-highest-ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate, on March 26 introduced bipartisan legislation that would bar the federal government from purchasing or operating ground-based robotics made by companies tied to the Chinese Communist Party and other adversary nations. The American Security Robotics Act would prohibit executive agencies from procuring unmanned ground vehicle systems manufactured or assembled by entities linked to foreign adversaries. The ban covers humanoid robots, autonomous patrol technology, remote surveillance vehicles, and mobile robotics. The bill would also block federal funds awarded through contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements from being used to acquire or operate the covered systems. Agencies that already own such systems would have one year after enactment to stop using them....