The U.S. should introduce support measures for U.S. technology industries that are “too critical to fail,” especially those competing for market share with China, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said in an April 13 report. As the Commerce Department seeks to restrict sales of emerging technologies to counter Chinese technology theft (see 2004010007), Congress should task the administration with expanding funding for research in those key fields -- including robotics, artificial intelligence and semiconductors -- and target it to “maximize commercialization” of the technologies in the United States. Congress should also support an “industrial investment bank” to increase advanced production in the U.S. and “encourage” the relocation of critical technology production from China to the U.S., the ITIF said.

The U.S. should rethink antitrust policies, experts said at an Information Technology and Innovation Foundation webinar Thursday. China is giving its companies an advantage, said Berkeley Research Group Chairman David Teece. St. Mary’s University London Senior Lecturer in Law Aurelien Portuese recommended antitrust enforcers shift to qualitative analysis to account for big tech’s free-services model.

The U.S. should rethink antitrust policies, experts said at an Information Technology and Innovation Foundation webinar Thursday. China is giving its companies an advantage, said Berkeley Research Group Chairman David Teece. St. Mary’s University London Senior Lecturer in Law Aurelien Portuese recommended antitrust enforcers shift to qualitative analysis to account for big tech’s free-services model.

The U.S. should rethink antitrust policies, experts said at an Information Technology and Innovation Foundation webinar Thursday. China is giving its companies an advantage, said Berkeley Research Group Chairman David Teece. St. Mary’s University London Senior Lecturer in Law Aurelien Portuese recommended antitrust enforcers shift to qualitative analysis to account for big tech’s free-services model.

The European Commission remains on target to propose artificial intelligence legislation in December, despite COVID-19 complications, EC Team Leader-AI Irina Orssich said Wednesday (see 2002190004). “This might still happen,” she said during an Information Technology and Innovation Foundation livestream.

The European Commission remains on target to propose artificial intelligence legislation in December, despite COVID-19 complications, EC Team Leader-AI Irina Orssich said Wednesday (see 2002190004). “This might still happen,” she said during an Information Technology and Innovation Foundation livestream.

Coronavirus concerns are forcing the cancellation of more industry summits and prompting the FCC to ban nonessential travel and participation in large gatherings (see 2003040061). America's Communications Association Thursday also announced the cancellation of its March summit.

Coronavirus concerns are forcing the cancellation of more industry summits and prompting the FCC to ban nonessential travel and participation in large gatherings (see 2003040061). America's Communications Association Thursday also announced the cancellation of its March summit.

Don't ban facial recognition technology due to privacy concerns (see 2001140063), said one witness for Wednesday's House Oversight Committee hearing. Industry "has taken many steps to ensure the safe and responsible deployment," testified Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Vice President Daniel Castro. "Congress should focus on steps to improve oversight and accountability of commercial use of facial recognition technology." Castro said "even narrow bans can have unintended consequences, given the widespread integration of facial recognition technology." Committee staff noted such tech is "increasingly in home security systems, social media sites, shopping malls, and elsewhere for advertising, security, access, photo and video data identification, and accessibility." Committee members of both parties hope to have a bipartisan bill. Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., expects one to be introduced and marked up “in the very near future.” Facial identification tech is "just not ready for prime time," said Maloney. “Despite these concerns, we see facial recognition technology being used more and more.” It's "completely unregulated at the federal level,” she noted. Ranking member Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, appreciates "your willingness to work with us on this legislation," he told Maloney at the start of his opening remarks (see 21-minute mark). “All sides are trying to work together." It's a “powerful technology,” with a market of some $9 billion expected by 2022: “We understand and appreciate the great promise that this technology holds.” For him, "the urgent issue” to “tackle ... is reining in the government's unchecked use of this technology when it impairs our freedoms and our liberties.” He cited the First and Fourth amendments. “This issue transcends politics,” Jordan said. He fears a “patchwork of laws” arising from localities. Studies find "significant variance" between facial recognition algorithms, said National Institute of Standards and Technology Information Technology Laboratory Director Charles Romine. "Some produce significantly fewer errors than others." Don't "think of facial recognition as either always accurate or always error prone," he said. The staff memo said the committee held two 2019 hearings on the subject.

Don't ban facial recognition technology due to privacy concerns (see 2001140063), said one witness for Wednesday's House Oversight Committee hearing. Industry "has taken many steps to ensure the safe and responsible deployment," testified Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Vice President Daniel Castro. "Congress should focus on steps to improve oversight and accountability of commercial use of facial recognition technology." Castro said "even narrow bans can have unintended consequences, given the widespread integration of facial recognition technology." Committee staff noted such tech is "increasingly in home security systems, social media sites, shopping malls, and elsewhere for advertising, security, access, photo and video data identification, and accessibility." Committee members of both parties hope to have a bipartisan bill. Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., expects one to be introduced and marked up “in the very near future.” Facial identification tech is "just not ready for prime time," said Maloney. “Despite these concerns, we see facial recognition technology being used more and more.” It's "completely unregulated at the federal level,” she noted. Ranking member Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, appreciates "your willingness to work with us on this legislation," he told Maloney at the start of his opening remarks (see 21-minute mark). “All sides are trying to work together." It's a “powerful technology,” with a market of some $9 billion expected by 2022: “We understand and appreciate the great promise that this technology holds.” For him, "the urgent issue” to “tackle ... is reining in the government's unchecked use of this technology when it impairs our freedoms and our liberties.” He cited the First and Fourth amendments. “This issue transcends politics,” Jordan said. He fears a “patchwork of laws” arising from localities. Studies find "significant variance" between facial recognition algorithms, said National Institute of Standards and Technology Information Technology Laboratory Director Charles Romine. "Some produce significantly fewer errors than others." Don't "think of facial recognition as either always accurate or always error prone," he said. The staff memo said the committee held two 2019 hearings on the subject.