Daniel Castro

Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., United States

Vice President at Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Director at Center for Data Innovation

VP @ITIFdc. Director @DataInnovation. Tech policy leader. Data enthusiast. AI advocate. Pro-copyright. Anti-SESTA. Champion of inclusive innovation.

Articles

Congress Should Preempt Onslaught of State AI Laws

1 week ago | itif.org | Daniel Castro

States are racing to regulate artificial intelligence, creating a patchwork of laws that threatens to slow innovation, drive up compliance costs, and undermine U.S. global competitiveness.
Overly Stringent Export Controls Chip Away at American AI Leadership

1 week ago | itif.org | Daniel Castro |Stephen Ezell

The Biden administration’s export control policy for AI chips has largely been a failure since day one. Yet, year after year, it has doubled down, attempting to plug various loopholes. The policy has now expanded to an almost comical extent—but the consequences are no joke. While the U.S. government is right to prevent U.S. companies from selling advanced AI technology to the Chinese military, cutting U.S. companies off from the entire Chinese market is a cure worse than the disease.
Canada Should Harness Its AI Advantage, Not Squander It

2 weeks ago | itif.org | Lawrence Jun Zhang |Daniel Castro

Canada faces a pivotal choice on artificial intelligence (AI): It can build on its world-class research and top-tier talent to stay at the forefront of the global AI economy, or it can risk squandering its early lead by prioritizing regulation over deployment. To preserve the early advantages earned through visionary research, homegrown expertise, and strategic investments, Canada must focus not just on developing AI but on putting it to use.
Testimony to the Alaska State Legislature Regarding AI, Deepfakes, Cybersecurity, and Data Transfers

2 weeks ago | itif.org | Daniel Castro

Introduction and Summary 1Deepfakes In Elections 2AI in State Government Agencies 3Conclusion. 4Endnotes 4ITIF provided testimony on this issue in February 2024 and again in April 2025. The following was delivered April 29, 2025:Chair Kawasaki, Vice Chair Bjorkman, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to share feedback on Alaska Senate Bill 2, a legislative proposal concerning deepfakes in elections and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by state agencies.
Unlocking the Promise of AI for the State Department

3 weeks ago | itif.org | Daniel Castro

Some government officials circulated a draft executive order this past week outlining a potentially radical reorganization of the State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “hoax” and “fake news” on social media. While this proposal may not reflect current plans, the Trump administration will likely pursue significant changes in the future, as it has done to other parts of the federal government.
Europe’s GDPR Fines Against US Firms Are Unfair and Disproportionate

4 weeks ago | datainnovation.org | Daniel Castro

One of the key principles of President Trump’s “America First” trade policy is to inject reciprocity into trade practices with partner nations. In other words, the United States should treat other countries the way they treat the United States. However, this policy requires looking beyond top-line tariff rates, as many countries use non-tariff barriers to penalize U.S. companies—especially in the digital economy.
Europe’s GDPR Fines Against US Firms Are Unfair and Disproportionate

4 weeks ago | itif.org | Daniel Castro

|April 17, 2025One of the key principles of President Trump’s “America First” trade policy is to inject reciprocity into trade practices with partner nations. In other words, the United States should treat other countries the way they treat the United States. However, this policy requires looking beyond top-line tariff rates, as many countries use non-tariff barriers to penalize U.S. companies—especially in the digital economy.
Why the US Should Block Piracy

1 month ago | itif.org | Daniel Castro

Global online piracy costs the U.S. economy an estimated $29 billion a year, threatening millions of jobs in America’s creative industries—from film and television to music and video games. Foreign criminal organizations exploit weak intellectual property (IP) enforcement abroad and loopholes in U.S. law to run piracy sites that offer free access to stolen content. These sites often serve up malware along with movies, all while earning millions in ad revenue.
Comments Before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Regarding Data Privacy

1 month ago | itif.org | Ash Johnson |Alex Ambrose |Daniel Castro

Introduction and Summary 1I. Roles and Responsibilities 2II. Personal Information, Transparency, and Consumer Rights 3III. Existing Privacy Frameworks & Protections 4IV. Data Security 5V. Artificial Intelligence. 5VI. Accountability & Enforcement 5Conclusion.
Protect Data Without Undermining Its Value

1 month ago | itif.org | Daniel Castro

Privacy legislation is not just about protecting data; it is about ensuring that data can still be used in valuable and responsible ways. If the sole objective were to lock down data, the solution would be simple—prohibit most data collection, mandate deletion within 24 hours, and impose severe penalties for violations. However, such an approach would eliminate the many benefits that responsible data use provides.