Undue Foreign Influence

WHAT IS UNDUE FOREIGN INFLUENCE?

Imagine pouring your heart and soul into something important, something world-changing, only to have someone steal it, unbeknownst to you, due to a relationship they had with you, and access to what you were working on.  All your hard work and investments (both time and finances), gone in the blink of an eye; and worse, it is now in the hands of someone who wishes to harm you or your country.  For many researchers, this is not just hypothetical; it is what can and has actually happened many times, over the last few decades.

In recent years, nefarious actors in countries which align themselves against the United States, have stolen and otherwise illicitly obtained US taxpayer-funded research in order to further their own goals and gain a strategic advantage over the United States.  In many of these cases, access to the researchers’ work was obtained through their personal relationships, and either wittingly or unwittingly given to foreign enemies. These relationships can be leveraged by foreign adversaries in a variety of ways, including financial support, or Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRPs).  While international collaboration is still encouraged, in order to avoid compromising your reputation, the United States’ economic competitiveness and national security, vigilance must be exercised to ensure that there is no undue or unwanted influence by foreign actors.