(Des Moines) U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today introduced bipartisan legislation to protect Americans’ data and national security information from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The UAS Threat Disclosure Act, co-led by U.S. Representative Jared Golden (ME-02), will expand transparency of the threats posed by Chinese technology to state and local law enforcement.
“Law enforcement needs to be able to leverage the latest technology to keep our communities safe – but they shouldn’t be relying on anything manufactured by a company tied to the Chinese Communist Party,” said Rep. Nunn. “As China attempts to collect data on Americans, we cannot undermine our own economic and national security by handing it to them on a silver platter. By creating transparency for local law enforcement, we can prevent the use of Chinese-manufactured technology and keep our country safe.”
Local law enforcement agencies use UAS drones, or unmanned aircraft systems, to assist with community safety and search and rescue. Approximately 58% of the U.S. commercial drone market is controlled by companies affiliated with the CCP. Those companies may have unauthorized access to these systems and data – which in turn may give the Chinese government access to this data. In January 2024, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) reported that Chinese-manufactured UAS pose a threat to critical infrastructure – potentially jeopardizing U.S. national security, economic security, and public health and safety.
“It’s dangerous for law enforcement to rely on technology manufactured by an adversarial foreign government — especially without a complete understanding of its risks,” said Rep. Golden. “I’m proud to work across the aisle with Congressman Nunn to ensure Americans have the knowledge they need to avoid any threats that our national security experts have identified.”
Many federal government agencies have already dramatically reduced or banned the procurement of UAS made in China or with Chinese technology. Four states – Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi – have banned the use of Chinese UAS. Law enforcement agencies in the other 46 states have increasingly used technology from Chinese companies without adequately considering the potential privacy and cybersecurity risks.
The bipartisan UAS Threat Disclosure Act requires the U.S. Director of National Intelligence to expand transparency for local and state law enforcement by declassifying information on the threats posed by the procurement and acquisition of drone technology manufactured by the Chinese Communist Party or any affiliated companies.
