Priya Patel
TLDR:
- The Disruptive Technology Strike Force was created to prevent sensitive technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states.
- In its first year, the Strike Force successfully charged 14 cases involving sanctions and export control violations, and other offenses related to unlawful transfer of sensitive technology.
An official website of the United States government revealed that since its launch in February 2023, the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, formed by the Departments of Justice and Commerce, along with partners like the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, has taken a proactive approach to protecting advanced technology from foreign adversaries. Over the course of the first year, the Strike Force has made significant progress in preventing sensitive technology from falling into the wrong hands:
In terms of enforcement actions, the Strike Force has been involved in charging 14 cases related to sanctions and export control violations, as well as smuggling conspiracies, preventing the transfer of sensitive information and goods to countries like Russia, China, and Iran. These cases have involved individuals attempting to send technologies like semiconductors, microelectronics, and other military-grade technology to sanctioned businesses in Russia.
Furthermore, the Strike Force has worked to secure guilty pleas from individuals involved in schemes to transfer electronic components for UAVs and guided missile systems to sanctioned entities. Temporary Denial Orders were also issued against 29 entities, including airlines, freight forwarders, and defense companies, to restrict their access to controlled U.S. items. The Strike Force has contributed to multiple parties being included on Commerce’s Entity List and Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List to further prevent the flow of sensitive technology to adversarial nations.
International partnerships have been crucial to the Strike Force’s efforts, with engagements in countries like Ukraine, South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom to curb the illegal flow of technology. Assistance from private sector companies involved in the manufacture and shipment of sensitive export-controlled items has also been pivotal in the Strike Force’s operations. The addition of new interagency partners and enforcement teams has further strengthened their capabilities in safeguarding critical technology from falling into the wrong hands.
