Protecting Sensitive Technology from Falling into the Wrong Hands

It has been one year since the initiation of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, which aims to prevent the unlawful acquisition of advanced technology by foreign adversaries. In the previous 12 months, the Strike Force has made significant progress in safeguarding sensitive technology from authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states.

The efforts of the Strike Force have led to 14 identified cases involving alleged violations of sanctions and export controls, smuggling conspiracies, and other offenses related to the unlawful transfer of sensitive information, goods, and military-grade technology to Russia, China, or Iran. These cases were pursued by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

Numerous individuals have been charged and apprehended for their involvement in schemes to unlawfully export sensitive technology to sanctioned entities in Russia and China. These cases include individuals engaged in the illicit acquisition of microelectronics, semiconductors, and other dual-use electronics, as well as sophisticated circuits and surveillance technology. Furthermore, former employees of U.S. companies have faced charges for stealing confidential and proprietary information related to sensitive technology and attempting to take such information to China.

Efforts have also been directed towards preventing the illegal procurement of sensitive U.S. technology on behalf of the government of Iran or Iranian end users. Several individuals have been charged with smuggling U.S.-origin items used in the production of UAVs and ballistic missile systems to Iranian entities with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Defense.

Additionally, the Strike Force has obtained the guilty plea of a defendant charged for her involvement in a multi-million-dollar scheme to send electronic components used in UAVs and guided missile systems to sanctioned entities in Russia. Temporary Denial Orders have been issued against 29 entities to restrict their access to controlled U.S. items, and numerous parties have been placed on Commerce’s Entity List and Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.

International collaborations have been established to prevent critical technology from being taken by foreign adversaries. Initiatives have been undertaken to create the Disruptive Technology Protection Network with South Korea and Japan to expand collaboration on technology protection measures and foster partnerships with the private sector.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen have delivered remarks and participated in discussions in various international forums, emphasizing the national security risks posed by artificial intelligence and the importance of preventing the illegal flow of sensitive technology to foreign adversaries.

The Strike Force has also conducted industry outreach events and held roundtable discussions with compliance officials and technical experts at numerous cutting-edge tech companies, research institutions, and defense contractors. Efforts have been made to tour the largest and third-largest commercial ports in the United States and strategically align Strike Force presence with the location of critical technology-related industries throughout the United States.

Additionally, the Strike Force has added new interagency partners and enforcement teams to its efforts, including the Defense Criminal Investigative Service as a formal Strike Force partner. Enforcement teams have been added in strategic locations throughout the United States to strengthen efforts to protect defense industry technology.

The efforts of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force over the past year have been instrumental in preventing sensitive technology from falling into the wrong hands, and the partnerships forged with international allies and the private sector have been crucial in advancing this mission. Moving forward, the Strike Force remains committed to aggressively pursuing enforcement actions against illegal procurement networks and stopping nation-state actors from illicitly acquiring our most sensitive technology.