Statement by Max Fenkell, Global Head of Policy and Government Relations, Scale AI, Before the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Hearing Entitled “DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics: Examining the National Security Risks of PRC Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Autonomous Technologies and Building a Secure U.S. Technology Base”
STATEMENT BY MAX FENKELL GLOBAL HEAD OF POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SCALE AI BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION HEARING ENTITLED “DEEPSEEK AND UNITREE ROBOTICS: EXAMINING THE NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS OF PRC ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ROBOTICS, AND AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGIES AND BUILDING A SECURE U.S. TECHNOLOGY BASE" MARCH 17, 2026
This document contains hearing testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security regarding national security risks posed by PRC artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous technologies. Witnesses discuss how China's state-directed industrial policies, data advantages, and military-civil fusion threaten U.S. technological leadership and critical infrastructure. The testimonies highlight specific vulnerabilities in platforms like Unitree robotics and make recommendations for legislative and executive action.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Policymakers, legislators, and national security officials seeking guidance on U.S. technology policy and foreign adversarial risks in AI and robotics.
What the document contains
The document covers the strategic challenges and cybersecurity risks associated with Chinese artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems. It addresses industrial policies, supply chain vulnerabilities, sensor risks like LiDAR, and the legal obligations of Chinese tech firms.
The document does not provide a formal binding regulation or statute itself, but rather consists of congressional hearing testimonies and recommendations.
- The United States is falling behind in AI implementation, robotics data infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing compared to China's state-directed strategy.
- Advanced robots are cyber-physical systems that introduce severe national security risks, including espionage, data exfiltration, and physical sabotage.
- Chinese robotics and AI companies operate under laws that legally compel them to cooperate with state intelligence and security authorities.
- The U.S. must enact national robotics strategies, restrict federal procurement of adversarial robotic systems, and protect domestic data assets.
· Opening Statements and Introductions · Statement by Max Fenkell (Scale AI) · Statement by Matthew Malchano (Boston Dynamics) · Statement by Michael Robbins (AUVSI) · Statement by Dr. Rush Doshi (Georgetown University / CFR)
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Fairness
0/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Dignity
0/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Oversight
0/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
screening score · 2026-10-23
Privacy
4/5Protection of personal data and private life
Connected robots routinely collect detailed operational data from the environments in which they operate. This can include facility layouts, movement patterns, environmental sensing data, workflow information
Testimony of AUVSI
screening score · 2026-10-23
Transparency
3/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
Security researchers identified an undocumented access pathway in a Unitree Go1 quadruped robot that allowed remote access to camera feeds and control functions without user authorization
Testimony of AUVSI
screening score · 2026-10-23
Enforcement
4/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
Congress should enact legislation prohibiting federal agencies and federal contractors from procuring robotic systems or AI models developed by companies subject to PRC national security laws.
Dr. Rush Doshi Prepared Statement
screening score · 2026-10-23