Several Democrat and Republican lawmakers from both chambers of Congress recently introduced the Enhancing Public-Private Sharing on Manipulative Adversary Practices in Critical Minerals Projects Act to increase the information sharing relationship between private companies and the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC).
While Congress is considering banning TikTok for reportedly doing similar things with China, lawmakers from both parties introduced this legislation to require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to develop a strategy for improving the sharing of information and intelligence on foreign adversaries’ tactics and activities to spread disinformation, steal intellectual property or pursue other illegal efforts against U.S. interests abroad. Specifically, though, this would apply to U.S. companies in foreign jurisdictions on projects relating to energy generation and storage.
“American companies have been working to invest in critical minerals projects in the U.S. and abroad in order to reduce our country’s dependence on China and meet the increasing demand for these minerals, which are critical for technologies across society,” Warner said. “Our foreign adversaries, in particular the PRC, are increasing malicious efforts to undermine U.S. attempts to dominate in this industry. Increasing collaboration between the IC and these companies is a strong step towards ensuring that our adversaries will not succeed in interfering with U.S. projects abroad, and instead help cultivate strong public-private partnerships that will boost U.S. businesses and interests, particularly in areas of technology critical to our national security.”
The idea was touted by figures such as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark Warner (D-VA) and Rob Wittman (R-VA), member of the Select Committee on the CCP, among others. In their bill, they stressed any exchange of information would need to be voluntary.
“Unsurprisingly, the Chinese Communist Party is actively trying to undermine U.S. companies pursuing critical mineral projects by spreading disinformation and propaganda,” Wittman said. “As a senior member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, I am proud to join my colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Public-Private Manipulative Practices Act to enable the U.S. government to more effectively partner with American companies to counter illicit activities from all foreign adversaries that seek to restrict our access to the world’s critical mineral supply.”
During a roundtable last year with the Senate Intelligence Committee, industry leaders requested more government support in identifying unfair and corrupt practices by foreign adversaries.