Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, has called on U.S. officials investigate whether European governments are trying to influence artificial intelligence laws in the United States.

The UK hosted the first global AI summit in 2018. It brought together tech executives, academics, and world leaders to discuss a coordinated regulatory approach. Since then, some countries have set up their AI safety institutes and have shared expertise with other countries.

Cruz, the Republican Party nominee for president in 2016, who ran against Donald Trump, is one of the most influential senators. He has been vocal in his criticism of Joe Biden’s tech regulation approach.

Cruz claimed that European governments had placed heavy regulations on American AI firms abroad. The letter, which was dated November 21 but made public only on Monday, said that they were now trying influence the direction AI regulations in the United States.

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Cruz called these regulations “onerous”, and said they were a product from the “radical Left”.

Cruz wrote: “While the Biden and Harris administration may not wish to inform the American public of how closely they collaborate with foreign governments, the American public has a right at least to know which foreign actors are trying impose these radical regulatory measures on American companies.”

The European Union is leading the charge in the world for AI-specific regulations. This year, it passed the AI Act – the first comprehensive set of laws to govern the technology.

Cruz cited as examples of foreign influences on domestic AI policy a Memorandum of Understanding the U.S. and Britain issued in April as well as the treaty signed between the Biden administration, several European governments and the European Union.

Cruz said that the Centre for the Governance of Artificial Intelligence, a UK non-profit organization which co-hosted an AI policy summit in San Francisco recently, did not follow the law in failing to register as a Foreign Agent despite engaging in politically-motivated activities.

A GovAI spokesperson confirmed that “GovAI was aware of the request by Sen. Cruz made to the Department of Justice and will, if necessary, fully cooperate with the relevant authorities.”

“GovAI, a strict independent organisation that is committed to responsible and transparent operation.”