Publications: Daniel Castro

U.S. semiconductor export controls swing unpredictably between administrations, undermining innovation and security. The solution is a clear, bipartisan strategy that narrowly restricts the most sensitive technologies while allowing U.S. chipmakers to compete globally.

The Trump administration’s decision to allow H200 chip sales to China is strategically sound because it keeps Chinese firms reliant on U.S. technology, supports American chipmakers’ R&D, and preserves U.S. competitive advantage, though imposing a 25% fee undermines these benefits.

iRobot’s collapse and sale to a Chinese firm illustrate how blocking domestic consolidation in the name of antitrust can weaken U.S. technology leadership and ultimately undermine national competitiveness.

The European Commission’s proposed tweaks to the ePrivacy Directive offer only minor relief from intrusive cookie prompts, but to truly support innovation, free digital services, and Europe’s competitiveness, policymakers must fundamentally overhaul the outdated consent model.

The European Commission’s €120 million DSA fine against X is arbitrary and overreaching. The U.S. government should continue pushing back against foreign regulations that harm American platforms and citizens.

In an op-ed for The Dispatch, Daniel Castro argues that banning superintelligent AI is misguided because it’s based on speculation, would undermine U.S. innovation and security, and should be replaced with strong oversight—not restrictions on advancing knowledge.

In China Daily, Daniel Castro argues that the U.S. and China face AI risks—like models enabling biological threats or cyberattacks—that are too great for either to manage alone, and can be mitigated through coordinated safety measures such as joint research, incident reporting, and red-team testing.

Fifty conflicting state AI laws create a fragmented, innovation-crushing patchwork, which federal preemption can solve by establishing a single, coherent national framework for AI regulation.

France’s criminal investigation into TikTok for imperfect content moderation sets a dangerous precedent that would chill lawful speech and push platforms toward overly restrictive policies.

The Federal Railroad Administration should approve the expansion of Automated Track Inspection. This proven technology enhances rail safety and efficiency, but political pressure, outdated regulations, and an inconsistent waiver process have stalled its deployment.