"Countering Chinese Attempts at Snooping" Act Introduced in Senate

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have announced their intention to introduce the "Countering Chinese Attempts at Snooping" or CCAS Act, legislation aimed at preventing Chinese surveillance and espionage. The bill targets companies like Tencent, Huawei, and ZTE, which are controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and prohibits U.S. federal employees from using their platforms for official business. The legislation also aims to stop U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used to subsidize or fund U.N. contracts with these companies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CCAS Act targets Chinese technology companies controlled by the CCP, including Tencent, Huawei, and ZTE.
  • The bill prohibits U.S. federal employees from using platforms run by these companies for official business.
  • The legislation requires the Secretary of State to create a list of Chinese technology companies that enable the CCP to conduct espionage based on a list of criteria, including enabling surveillance and granting access to networks.
  • The bill requires offsets in U.S. payments to the UN equal to the value of the contracts the UN signs with the listed companies.
  • The CCAS Act is part of Sen. Cruz's efforts to combat Chinese espionage throughout the U.S., including at American research installations and universities and in the Five Eyes alliance.
  • Sen. Cruz stated that companies like Tencent and Huawei are "espionage operations for the Chinese Communist party, masquerading as telecom companies for the 21st century."
  • Sen. Hawley added that the UN's decision to partner with Tencent is "stupid and dangerous" and that Chinese technology companies like Tencent and Huawei actively conspire with the CCP to conduct international surveillance.

Statistics:

  • There is no specific numerical data provided in the text regarding the scope of the problem or the financial impact of the proposed legislation on U.S. taxpayers or the UN.
  • September 2019 marked a significant point in time when State Department Assistant Secretary for Nonproliferation Chris Ford publicly acknowledged the CCP's use of Chinese technology companies for espionage.

Sources:

  • Sen. Ted Cruz, Fox News, September 2019 (including quote from Sen. Cruz)
  • State Department Assistant Secretary for Nonproliferation Chris Ford, September 2019 (including quote from Mr. Ford)
  • Statement from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)