RTSat, 26 Jan 2019 12:07 UTC
Artificial intelligence and machine learning pose a grave threat when they are controlled by authoritarian states, according to billionaire George Soros. He has called for a crackdown on Chinese tech companies.
Talking to journalists and executives attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said on Thursday the use of such technologies by the Chinese government is a "mortal danger."
The businessman said that the United States should apply more pressure to Chinese tech companies Huawei and ZTE, which have been labeled national security threats by some US officials.
"Instead of letting ZTE and Huawei off lightly, [the United States - Ed.] needs to crack down on them," Soros said, adding:
"If these companies came to dominate the 5G market, they would present an unacceptable security risk for the rest of the world."Huawei and ZTE, which make telecommunications equipment and smartphones, have been facing scrutiny in the US lately over their alleged ties to the Chinese government. Both companies have denied accusations that they pose a security threat.
Last year in Davos, Soros warned about the danger posed by major tech companies including Google and Facebook. He said they were monopolies intent on growing ever-more powerful.
Comment: MarketWatch
reports more on Soros' comments:
"China isn't the only authoritarian regime in the world, but it's undoubtedly the wealthiest, strongest and most developed in machine learning and artificial intelligence. This makes Xi Jinping the most dangerous opponent of those who believe in the concept of open society" Soros said, in remarks prepared for delivery in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, where world leaders, business executives and celebrities have gathered for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.
Soros said his worries extend beyond China, centering on the fear that "the combination of repressive regimes with IT monopolies endows those regimes with a built-in advantage over open societies. The instruments of control are useful tools in the hands of authoritarian regimes, but they pose a mortal threat to open societies."
Soros focused on China's plans for a "social credit" system that tracks each citizen's social and financial behavior, producing a score that would be used to determine what services they are entitled to use, which he called "frightening and abhorrent."
China has since
responded by saying that Soros' comments are a 'a gross distortion not even worthy of a rebuttal.':
"It's obvious who is opening doors and building roads and who is closing doors and building walls. Statements by certain people, which portray black as white and distort facts, are completely pointless and not worthy of even a rebuttal," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.
"We hope the relevant American can correct his attitude, not be shortsighted, and hold an objective, rational and correct opinion of China's development," Hua added.
Comment: MarketWatch reports more on Soros' comments: China has since responded by saying that Soros' comments are a 'a gross distortion not even worthy of a rebuttal.':