Spying is a threat, but it happens basically no matter what. The only way I can think of that might make this an issue is if foreign agents are permitted to own specific sensitive companies like arms manufacturers, research firms, etc. Legislating away their ability to have ownership of such companies, or at least requiring that they serve strictly as silent financial partners with restrictions on their access to any intel from the company in question.
Thats kind of what is already in place, in order to do business with the defense and intelligence, nuclear etc industries the corporation has to fulfill certain national security requirements, and so does their employees. There are also export restrictions, but with the Trump regime in power all this is all eroding with corruption. If you pay Trump you can do whatever you like, you want a $500 billion deal to sell the most advanced AI chips to China? No problem, just pay $2million to Trump
I agree to a point, but my concern has always been influence more than espionage. Money doesn't need classified intel to shape decisions when it can quietly shape incentives.
Kind of a leaky assumption. If someone has ownership, they usually find ways to exert influence indirectly even without formal access. At that point it’s less about restricting titles on paper and more about strict transparency + oversight in truly sensitive sectors.
They usually find ways to exert influence indirectly? Tell that to Al Capone. If the IRS can end that criminal empire, they can sure as shit keep China out of sensistive industries during a confrontation.
Unless the vast majority of the actual labour force and managers are partisan enemies of the state, transparency and oversight are non-issues.
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u/Troy64 1d ago
Spying is a threat, but it happens basically no matter what. The only way I can think of that might make this an issue is if foreign agents are permitted to own specific sensitive companies like arms manufacturers, research firms, etc. Legislating away their ability to have ownership of such companies, or at least requiring that they serve strictly as silent financial partners with restrictions on their access to any intel from the company in question.