Former Official Proposes Repeal of US Spying Ban
David Cohen argues that lifting the economic espionage ban is necessary to protect the US lead in frontier technologies.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Remote Work
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In October 2026, former CIA deputy director David Cohen proposed that the United States formally repeal its long-standing ban on economic espionage. The proposal suggests using intelligence gathering to support domestic advancements in sectors like AI and quantum computing.
Why it matters
The proposal aims to address the intensifying competition from China, where national security is increasingly tethered to private sector innovation. Proponents argue that the current constraints limit the government's ability to support American firms against foreign rivals.
A 2014 presidential policy directive currently prohibits the US from engaging in economic espionage for commercial advantage. China has countered recent US targeting of its tech sectors by introducing draft rules to protect trade secrets and proposing export bans on 14 technologies.
The players
David Cohen
He served as the CIA deputy director under both the Barack Obama and Joe Biden administrations.
Barack Obama
He served as the 44th President of the United States and implemented the 2014 policy directive banning economic espionage.
Joe Biden
He served as the 46th President of the United States and oversaw the intelligence community during his tenure.
The details
The plan envisions intelligence agencies gathering commercial information to share directly with identified frontier tech sectors in the United States. This move follows a period of heightened friction, including US intelligence targeting of Chinese AI, semiconductor, and biotechnology firms in September 2026.
Timeline
President Obama issued a directive banning economic espionage in 2014.
US intelligence agencies targeted Chinese companies in September 2026.
China proposed export bans on 14 technologies in October 2026.
David Cohen published his proposal for economic espionage in October 2026.
China introduced draft rules to protect trade secrets on Monday.
Market Landscape
This proposal marks a sharp departure from the 2014 presidential policy directive that established norms against using national intelligence for commercial gain. It reflects a shift toward a more aggressive industrial policy as global powers consolidate their control over critical technologies.
Any move to shift government intelligence toward commercial support could impact global market operations and international trade secret protections. Customers may see increased volatility in tech sector supply chains as nations respond to new, aggressive industrial espionage policies.
The takeaway
The debate highlights the growing tension between traditional intelligence ethics and the perceived need to protect domestic technological supremacy. Readers should monitor how such policies influence future cross-border collaborations and the security protocols of multinational corporations.
Further reading
Explore the evolving standards of global corporate competition in the Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by South China Morning Post.
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Should the US government conduct economic espionage to help domestic companies compete against foreign firms?
