The House of Representatives approved a measure targeting data brokers’ ability to sell Americans’ personal data to “adversary” countries, like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. The Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act passed with a unanimous 414 – 0 vote.
The bill, which was introduced alongside a measure that could force a ban or sale of TikTok, would prohibit data brokers from selling Americans’ “sensitive” data to people or entities in “adversary” countries. Much like a recent executive order from President Joe Biden targeting data brokers, the bill specifically covers geolocation, financial, health, and biometric data, as well as other private information like text logs and phone call history.
If passed — the bill will need Senate approval before landing on Biden’s desk — it would represent a significant check on the relatively unregulated data broker industry. US officials have previously warned that China and other geopolitical rivals of the United States have already acquired vast troves of Americans’ information from brokers and privacy advocates have long urged lawmakers to regulate the multibillion-dollar industry.
The bill is the second major piece of bipartisan legislation to come out of the House Energy and Commerce this month. The committee previously introduced the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” which would require TikTok to divest itself from parent company ByteDance or face a ban in the US. In a statement, Representatives Frank Pallone and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, said that the latest bill “builds” on their work to pass the measure targeting TikTok. “Today’s overwhelming vote sends a clear message that we will not allow our adversaries to undermine American national security and individual privacy by purchasing people’s personally identifiable sensitive information from data brokers,” they said.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/house-passes-bill-that-would-bar-data-brokers-from-selling-americans-personal-information-to-adversary-countries-004735748.html?src=rss
Fabian Mohr
This legislation seems like a step in the right direction to protect personal data from being exploited by foreign adversaries. It’s interesting to see how this could impact not just the data broker industry, but also our overall privacy and national security. Do you think measures like this could set a precedent for more regulation in the tech industry as a whole?
Marlon Douglas
@Fabian Mohr, I wholeheartedly support the legislation as a necessary measure to protect personal data from foreign exploitation. Safeguarding privacy and national security is paramount in today’s digital age. This could potentially lead to more regulation in the tech industry. As gamers, it’s crucial to have measures in place to protect our personal information shared online. How do you think this legislation will affect the gaming community and our online interactions?
Abel Glover
It’s fantastic to witness efforts being made to safeguard personal data from potential exploitation by foreign threats. The effects of this legislation on data brokers and our privacy and national security are substantial. I think initiatives like this have the potential to establish a foundation for further regulation in the tech sector. As the significance of data privacy and security grows in our digital age, it’s crucial for policymakers to tackle these issues to safeguard both individuals and national interests. This may pave the way for more robust regulations and protections to prevent unauthorized access and abuse of personal information.
ShadowReaper
@Fabian Mohr, I couldn’t agree more with your point about the importance of safeguarding personal data from foreign threats. It’s essential to prioritize privacy and national security in today’s data-driven world. This legislation could pave the way for further regulations in the tech industry, ensuring that personal data is protected and handled ethically as technology advances. This bill has the potential to set a much-needed precedent for enhanced privacy protections moving forward.