Washington, D.C. – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly prevented meetings between congressional staff and the Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence (AI) company G42 this month, following US concerns about a potential deal between G42 and Microsoft.

This revelation, reported by Reuters, comes as the Biden administration scrutinizes the proposed partnership between Microsoft and G42, a deal that could involve the sharing of sensitive data and technology.

According to a US congressional spokesperson, the UAE government effectively scuttled scheduled meetings between congressional staff and G42, which were intended to discuss the company’s activities and address US concerns. This move has raised eyebrows in Washington, sparking speculation about the UAE’s intentions and the potential implications for US-UAE relations.

The US government’s concerns about the Microsoft-G42 deal stem from various factors, including:

Data security and privacy: G42 has access to vast amounts of data, including personal information of individuals, which could raise concerns about potential misuse or leakage.

National security: The deal could potentially give Microsoft access to sensitive technologies developed by G42, raising concerns about the transfer of technology and potential security risks.

Human rights: G42’s involvement in facial recognition technology, which has been used for surveillance and control in the UAE and other countries, has raised ethical and human rights concerns.

While the UAE government has not officially commented on the blocked meetings or the US concerns regarding the Microsoft-G42 deal, this incident underscores the growing tension between the US and the UAE on issues related to technology, data security, and human rights.

This situation could have significant implications for future collaborations between US and UAE companies, particularly in the rapidly developing field of AI. It also highlights the increasing importance of international collaboration and coordination on issues related to technology governance and ethical use of AI.

The US government is expected to continue its review of the Microsoft-G42 deal and may impose restrictions or conditions if deemed necessary to address security and ethical concerns.