Commerce Dept Releases Final Rule on Imagery Software Export Controls

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking feedback on a final rule requiring U.S. companies to secure a license to market artificial intelligence-based geospatial imagery technology to foreign countries other than Canada.

BIS said in a Federal Register notice published Monday the new requirement under the Export Administration Regulations is for software "designed to automate the analysis of geospatial imagery."

The bureau specifically restricts the export and reexport of platforms built to identify objects such as vehicles and houses and train a deep convolutional neural network.

According to the notice, BIS adds items to the EAR Export Control Classification Number 05Y521 series as determined by the departments of Commerce, Defense, State and other agencies if such technologies “provide a significant military or intelligence advantage.”

The comment period is open until March 6.

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