BIS Adds 8 Firms to Entity List for Supplying Military Parts, Surveillance Tech
The Bureau of Industry and Security is adding eight companies to the Entity List that it said are “enabling human rights violations,” including by supplying sensitive technology or military items to the Chinese, Russian and Myanmar militaries. The additions, outlined in a final rule released Dec. 10 and effective Dec. 11, target technology companies and supplier firms based in each of those three countries.
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All the companies will face license requirements for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations, and licenses will be reviewed under a presumption of denial.
“By adding these parties to the Entity List with the presumption of denial license review policy, we aim to ensure that U.S. technology is not used to enable human rights violations and abuses,” BIS Undersecretary Alan Estevez said.
BIS is adding Myanmar-based Sky Aviator Company Limited and Synpex Shwe Company Ltd. for supplying the Myanmar military with parts and components that have allowed it to “carry out human rights violations, including brutal aerial attacks against the civilian population,” the agency said. Russia-based Aviasnab LLC and Joint Stock Company Gorizont have also supplied sensitive military parts to the Myanmar armed forces, BIS said.
The agency also is adding China-based Beijing Zhongdun Security Technology Group Co., Ltd. for developing and selling products and services that allow China’s “public security establishment” to carry out human rights violations, while China-based Zhejiang Uniview Technologies Co., Ltd. was added for allowing the country to use advanced surveillance technology to monitor Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups.
BIS is adding Russia-based NTechLab LLC and Technology Videoanalysis LLC for making and supplying facial recognition software to the Russian government, which uses that software and related services to track and target peaceful protesters and activists. The products and services provided by those two companies “have become integral to Russia’s mass-surveillance apparatus,” the agency said.
All exports that now require a license as a result of this rule but were aboard a carrier to a port as of Dec. 11 may proceed to their destinations under the previous eligibility as long as the items are exported before Jan. 10, BIS said. Any items not exported before midnight Jan. 10 will require a license.