Policymakers should avoid data-protection regulations that inadvertently limit artificial intelligence (AI), ITIF President Rob Atkinson said Tuesday, delivering a report during a G7 ministerial meeting in Montreal. Laws and other regulations that “apply restrictive standards to automated decisions that would not apply to human decisions would raise costs and limit AI innovation, as well as force a trade-off with the accuracy and sophistication of AI systems,” said the report.

President Donald Trump’s signing of a memorandum Thursday proposing tariffs on about $60 billion worth of Chinese goods imported to the U.S. didn’t detail for now which specific products would be targeted. But CTA President Gary Shapiro wasted little time in warning the tariffs would threaten to put “a new tax on U.S. businesses” and force consumers “to pay dramatically more to access the technology products they need.”

President Donald Trump’s signing of a memorandum Thursday proposing tariffs on about $60 billion worth of Chinese goods imported to the U.S. didn’t detail for now which specific products would be targeted. But CTA President Gary Shapiro wasted little time in warning the tariffs would threaten to put “a new tax on U.S. businesses” and force consumers “to pay dramatically more to access the technology products they need.”

President Donald Trump’s signing of a memorandum Thursday proposing tariffs on about $60 billion worth of Chinese goods imported to the U.S. didn’t detail for now which specific products would be targeted. But CTA President Gary Shapiro wasted little time in warning the tariffs would threaten to put “a new tax on U.S. businesses” and force consumers “to pay dramatically more to access the technology products they need.”

Tariffs are a tax on consumers, and not the right way to address China's industrial policies and unfair trade practices, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says. U.S. Chamber CEO Thomas Donohue said March 15 that sweeping tariffs against China "could lead to a destructive trade war with serious consequences for U.S. economic growth and job creation. The livelihood of America’s consumers, businesses, farmers, and ranchers are at risk if the administration proceeds with this plan." Administration officials say the Section 301 technology transfer and intellectual property investigation response will be released in the coming weeks.

Congress needs to reach agreement on cross-border data seizures before the Supreme Court rules in U.S. v. Microsoft, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said Monday. The high court is scheduled to hear oral argument Tuesday, to decide whether a law enforcement warrant can force a U.S. service provider to produce customer's emails stored abroad (see 1710160009). ITIF Vice President Daniel Castro said if Congress fails to act, U.S. competitiveness will feel negative impacts no matter what. If the court supports use of search warrants in obtaining data abroad, it will fuel incentives for storing data overseas with non-U.S. providers, he said. Conversely, if search warrants are ruled illegal overseas, foreign governments may force companies to store data domestically to block U.S. search warrants, he said. Castro said lawmakers should reach a legislative solution, describing the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (Cloud) Act as the “best option” (see 1802050057). The bill would establish a formal framework to resolve disputes over law enforcement access to communications and data stored on overseas servers via international bilateral agreements.

Congress needs to reach agreement on cross-border data seizures before the Supreme Court rules in U.S. v. Microsoft, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said Monday. The high court is scheduled to hear oral argument Tuesday, to decide whether a law enforcement warrant can force a U.S. service provider to produce customer's emails stored abroad (see 1710160009). ITIF Vice President Daniel Castro said if Congress fails to act, U.S. competitiveness will feel negative impacts no matter what. If the court supports use of search warrants in obtaining data abroad, it will fuel incentives for storing data overseas with non-U.S. providers, he said. Conversely, if search warrants are ruled illegal overseas, foreign governments may force companies to store data domestically to block U.S. search warrants, he said. Castro said lawmakers should reach a legislative solution, describing the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (Cloud) Act as the “best option” (see 1802050057). The bill would establish a formal framework to resolve disputes over law enforcement access to communications and data stored on overseas servers via international bilateral agreements.

Workforce automation won't result in the mass unemployment many experts predict, but modern American workforce-training programs are ill-equipped to deal with rapidly changing tech, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reported. Forecasts say 15 to 85 percent of the workforce could transition to automation in coming decades. McKinsey & Co. in November projected as much as 30 percent of modern workforce activity could be replaced by automation by 2030, saying 15 percent is more realistic. ITIF President Robert Atkinson said during an event Tuesday that many agree with 15 percent, but some have much bleaker forecasts, painting a technological “apocalypse.”

Workforce automation won't result in the mass unemployment many experts predict, but modern American workforce-training programs are ill-equipped to deal with rapidly changing tech, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reported. Forecasts say 15 to 85 percent of the workforce could transition to automation in coming decades. McKinsey & Co. in November projected as much as 30 percent of modern workforce activity could be replaced by automation by 2030, saying 15 percent is more realistic. ITIF President Robert Atkinson said during an event Tuesday that many agree with 15 percent, but some have much bleaker forecasts, painting a technological “apocalypse.”

Workforce automation won't result in the mass unemployment many experts predict, but modern American workforce-training programs are ill-equipped to deal with rapidly changing tech, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reported. Forecasts say 15 to 85 percent of the workforce could transition to automation in coming decades. McKinsey & Co. in November projected as much as 30 percent of modern workforce activity could be replaced by automation by 2030, saying 15 percent is more realistic. ITIF President Robert Atkinson said during an event Tuesday that many agree with 15 percent, but some have much bleaker forecasts, painting a technological “apocalypse.”