According to the language of the proposed bill, people who download AI models from China could face up to 20 years in jail, a million dollar fine, or both.
To be fair, this is common practice. Countries do this all the time to protect their economies. Mostly known in the West is China which banned many US services.
Of course, security of the data of the citizens is also a factor. You don’t want foreign countries use this data to interfere in any way.
Honestly, I don’t think this is common practice in non-oppressive countries. I mean sure, this happens in North Korea, Iran, China… But I’m relatively free to consume what I want with a few minor exceptions. For example we don’t import food that isn’t food-safe by our standards. Regardless if it’s common practice to eat it in other places. Also food may not be able to enter the country due to laws on animal cruelty. Similar things apply to electronic devices that aren’t up to code. And some select few things are banned altogether and you can’t have them and neither can someone import them. Other than that, regulations aren’t super strict. I can use all American social media platforms despite them stealing my personal data and violating European privacy laws regularly, can use Russian or Chinese websites… I think I live in a free country.
Helping domestic economy is done with tariffs / import tax. And not by banning things and putting people in jail.
And mind that this isn’t about the service that collects your data and gives it to the Chinese government. This is about downloading the model file and using it all by yourself. So no data gets transferred to a foreign country. And it’s not because people could get harmed or anything. This is just because the vice president doesn’t want it personally. Like in some dictatorship. Otherwise they would have banned transferring data into foreign countries, if that’s what it’s about. But they didn’t do that, because it’s not about protecting the people.
Or did I miss something and there are other examples for limitations on import?
To be fair, this is common practice. Countries do this all the time to protect their economies. Mostly known in the West is China which banned many US services.
Of course, security of the data of the citizens is also a factor. You don’t want foreign countries use this data to interfere in any way.
Honestly, I don’t think this is common practice in non-oppressive countries. I mean sure, this happens in North Korea, Iran, China… But I’m relatively free to consume what I want with a few minor exceptions. For example we don’t import food that isn’t food-safe by our standards. Regardless if it’s common practice to eat it in other places. Also food may not be able to enter the country due to laws on animal cruelty. Similar things apply to electronic devices that aren’t up to code. And some select few things are banned altogether and you can’t have them and neither can someone import them. Other than that, regulations aren’t super strict. I can use all American social media platforms despite them stealing my personal data and violating European privacy laws regularly, can use Russian or Chinese websites… I think I live in a free country.
Helping domestic economy is done with tariffs / import tax. And not by banning things and putting people in jail.
And mind that this isn’t about the service that collects your data and gives it to the Chinese government. This is about downloading the model file and using it all by yourself. So no data gets transferred to a foreign country. And it’s not because people could get harmed or anything. This is just because the vice president doesn’t want it personally. Like in some dictatorship. Otherwise they would have banned transferring data into foreign countries, if that’s what it’s about. But they didn’t do that, because it’s not about protecting the people.
Or did I miss something and there are other examples for limitations on import?
No, I think you did not miss anything 😇
Good summary