The White House is said to be considering a new policy that would require cloud computing companies to disclose certain information about their customers to the U.S. government, according to a report by Semafor. The policy is part of an upcoming executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) that aims to enhance national security and identify potential AI threats from foreign entities.
The proposed policy would direct the U.S. Department of Commerce to establish rules mandating cloud providers such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to report when a customer exceeds a specific threshold in purchasing computing resources. This initiative draws parallels with existing know your customer (KYC) policies in the banking sector, which are designed to prevent money laundering and illicit activities. The goal is to create a system that enables the U.S. government to proactively identify potential AI threats, particularly those originating from foreign countries.
The reporting requirement would serve as an early warning mechanism for American authorities, allowing them to identify potentially adversarial development in AI models. The government aims to enhance its strategic understanding of AI development by identifying activities in advance. This proposal signifies a step toward treating computing power as a national resource.
The implementation of a KYC mechanism for cloud computing firms aligns with the advocacy of organizations like OpenAI and the RAND Corporation think tank. However, critics argue that without careful implementation, this policy could potentially transform into a surveillance program.
The White House recently announced that it is developing an upcoming executive order on AI to promote responsible AI development and ensure American leadership in the field. This announcement coincided with a week in which tech leaders and AI experts descended on Washington, D.C., to discuss AI legislation with all 100 senators.
In conclusion, the White House is considering a policy that would require cloud computing companies to disclose customer information to the U.S. government. The purpose of this policy is to enhance national security and identify potential AI threats. Although this initiative aligns with the advocacy of some organizations, there are concerns about the potential for surveillance. The White House’s upcoming executive order on AI aims to promote responsible AI development in the United States.