The US Senate has approved a bipartisan bill to halt the illegal export of advanced American semiconductors to China. The legislation, known as the “Stop Stealing our Chips Act,” aims to curb concerns that these chips could be misused in Chinese military and artificial intelligence endeavors. Introduced by Senator Mike Rounds and supported by Senator Mark Warner, the bill includes a whistleblower incentive program under the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to encourage reporting on illicit semiconductor exports.
Senator Rounds expressed satisfaction with the Senate’s approval of the Stop Stealing our Chips Act, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding American-made semiconductors from unauthorized use, especially by China. He highlighted the escalating risks posed by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and stressed the critical national security implications. The bill seeks to enhance BIS’s export control enforcement by rewarding whistleblowers who provide credible information on unlawful activities.
The legislation is now set to proceed to the House of Representatives for final clearance before reaching President Donald Trump for potential enactment. Senator Warner hailed the Senate’s decision as a significant move towards fortifying US export controls and protecting national security interests. He underscored the necessity for robust tools to detect and prevent China’s illicit acquisition of advanced American AI technology through underground channels.
According to the bill’s provisions, BIS must establish a secure platform for whistleblower submissions within 120 days of enactment. Additionally, it proposes the establishment of an “Export Compliance Accountability Fund” funded by fines from export control breaches. The bill outlines that whistleblowers providing credible information leading to successful enforcement actions could receive rewards ranging from 10 to 30 percent of the fines collected, with exclusions for certain individuals and entities.
