At Sayari, we are constantly communicating with government teams across various departments, including at the Treasury, Commerce, and Defense to name a few. In these conversations, we’ve noticed several common themes and challenges that come up time and time again. This blog post is the first in a series where we will answer the burning questions we hear most from government analysts and leaders.
In a world where technological superiority is a key pillar of national security, a critical question looms: How can we stop the flow of sensitive technologies to adversaries? From advanced semiconductors and biotechnology to cutting-edge AI and quantum computing, governments are racing to prevent these innovations from supporting rival militaries and intelligence services.
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This challenge is more complex than ever, as adversaries use sophisticated, opaque networks to evade traditional oversight. This blog post explores these core challenges and presents a powerful solution for those on the front lines of this battle.
Halting the Flow of Sensitive Technologies
Preventing sensitive dual-use technologies from falling into the wrong hands is a critical component of national security. As the rise of AI and other dual-use technologies adds new urgency, governments must maintain a technological advantage over their adversaries. The transfer of these technologies in fields like semiconductors and biotechnology can empower rivals and enhance their military and intelligence programs. To proactively control this threat, governments employ a variety of strategies and regulations.
>> Read our investigation into a global export controls evasion network <<
Governments are tightening export controls on emerging and dual-use technologies, but enforcement must be modernized to address new evasion tactics. For example, multi-agency initiatives, such as the U.S. Disruptive Technology Strike Force, increased enforcement against illicit technology transfers and sanctions evasion. Another primary strategy includes the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which govern the transfer of sensitive goods, software, and data.
However, adversaries are adept at evading these controls by hiding behind complex networks of shell corporations and opaque supply chains. They use these tactics to acquire components and materials needed for advanced military systems, often obscuring the identity of military end-users (MEUs). Governments must therefore go beyond existing measures to tighten export control exemptions and close loopholes that allow for exploitation. By using powerful analytical tools, government teams can uncover hidden connections, trace components across multiple jurisdictions, and understand the full scope of an adversary’s defense supply chain. This proactive approach is essential for counterproliferation efforts and for ensuring the commercial sectors are equipped with the knowledge they need to do their part in protecting national security.
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Sayari: The Solution for Unmasking Adversaries
Stopping the flow of sensitive technologies is a monumental challenge because adversaries operate in the shadows, using complex networks of front companies and multi-layered supply chains to evade detection. To effectively combat this threat, governments need tools that provide radical transparency into these hidden networks.
Sayari automatically collects and connects valuable, messy data from across the world – including high-risk, frontier, emerging, and opaque secrecy jurisdictions – into clean commercial and trade networks for analysis. We provide access to that data in an analytical platform anyone can use, purpose-built by investigators with network visualization, risk insights, and clear sourcing.
>> Sayari’s solution to the anticipated BIS 50% export control expansion <<
Here is how Sayari directly addresses the core challenges of stopping sensitive technologies from getting into the wrong hands:
- For Export Controls: Sayari provides comprehensive global data from more than 250 jurisdictions, allowing investigators to identify and visualize the complex networks used to evade regulations. By mapping out corporate and ownership structures, investigators can uncover front companies and transshipment hubs that would otherwise remain hidden, preventing sanctions and export control evasion so sensitive technologies don’t slip through the cracks.
- For Unmasking MEUs: The platform’s ability to automatically connect data from disparate sources makes it possible to unmask hidden military end-users. Sayari’s network visualization tools allow government analysts to instantly see the full corporate structure of an entity, revealing true ownership and affiliations that are buried deep within layers of legal entities. This is crucial for verifying that technology does not end up in the hands of parties subject to licensing requirements.
- For Counterproliferation: Sayari helps investigators understand the full scope of an adversary’s procurement network to identify and disrupt the networks illicitly shipping dual-use goods and other controlled technologies. The platform links together corporate and trade records, allowing analysts to trace a sensitive component from its origin to its final end-user. By illuminating these hidden connections and intricate supply chains, Sayari empowers teams to proactively investigate and disrupt the flow of goods that can advance an adversary’s military and intelligence programs.
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