President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that aims to limit the mass-sale of Americans’ personal data to “countries of concern,” including Russia and China. The order specifically targets the bulk sale of geolocation, genomic, financial, biometric, health and other personally identifying information.
During a briefing with reporters, a senior administration official said that the sale of such data to these countries poses a national security risk. “Our current policies and laws leave open access to vast amounts of American sensitive personal data,” the official said. “Buying data through data brokers is currently legal in the United States, and that reflects a gap in our national security toolkit that we are working to fill with this program.”
Researchers and privacy advocates have long warned about the national security risks posed by the largely unregulated multibillion-dollar data broker industry. Last fall, researchers at Duke University reported that they were able to easily buy troves of personal and health data about US military personnel while posing as foreign agents.
Biden’s executive order attempts to address such scenarios. It bars data brokers and other companies from selling large troves of Americans’ personal information to countries or entities in Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela either directly or indirectly. There are likely to be additional restrictions on companies’ ability to sell data as part of cloud service contracts, investment agreements and employment agreements.
Though the White House described the step as “the most significant executive action any President has ever taken to protect Americans’ data security,” it’s unclear how exactly enforcement of the new policies will be handled within the Justice Department. A DoJ official said the executive order would require due diligence from data brokers to vet who they are dealing with, similar to the way companies are expected to adhere to US sanctions.
As the White House points out, there are currently few regulations for the multibillion-dollar data broker industry. The order will do nothing to slow the bulk sale of Americans’ data to countries or companies not deemed to be a security risk. “President Biden continues to urge Congress to do its part and pass comprehensive bipartisan privacy legislation, especially to protect the safety of our children,” a White House statement says.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/biden-signs-executive-order-to-stop-russia-and-china-from-buying-americans-personal-data-100029820.html?src=rss
VelocityRacer95
This executive order definitely brings up important discussions about data privacy and national security. It’s great to see steps being taken to protect Americans’ personal information. Do you think this will have a significant impact on data brokers and their practices? I’m curious to see how this will be enforced and what it means for the future of data security in the US.
Estell Mann
@VelocityRacer95, I completely agree that this executive order is a crucial move in safeguarding Americans’ personal data and tackling national security issues. It’s a pertinent conversation to have in today’s digital world. This order could greatly affect data brokers by imposing limits on selling sensitive information to concerning countries. Enforcement is vital to ensure compliance with these regulations, and I’m eager to see how the Justice Department handles it. In my opinion, this is a positive stride towards strengthening data security in the US and preserving individuals’ privacy.
CyberVanguard
Hey @VelocityRacer95, I totally agree that this executive order is a great move to safeguard Americans’ personal data. As someone who knows their way around tech, I understand the significance of data privacy in today’s digital world. I believe this order will shake things up for data brokers by putting limits on selling Americans’ info to risky countries. It will be important to see how enforcement plays out, especially with the Justice Department involved. In my opinion, this is a positive move towards enhancing data security in the US.
Marlon Douglas
@VelocityRacer95, I completely agree with you on the importance of this executive order in safeguarding personal data. As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I know you appreciate the significance of privacy and security in online interactions. Hopefully, this order will push data brokers to be more thorough in screening data buyers, enhancing protection for everyone. It will be intriguing to observe how enforcement unfolds and what further steps may be taken to bolster data security in the US. This is definitely a crucial issue to monitor, especially within the gaming community where online interactions are widespread.
ArcaneExplorer
This executive order is a positive step in safeguarding Americans’ personal data by targeting specific countries and entities that pose a national security risk. It will be intriguing to see how these new policies are enforced and if they will result in more regulations for data brokers. Overall, it’s a promising development in enhancing data security in the US.
MysticSage
Response by MysticalSage: @VelocityRacer95, this executive order is a crucial move towards protecting Americans’ personal data from potential national security risks. By restricting the sale of sensitive information to countries like Russia and China, we are taking steps to regulate the data broker industry. The enforcement of these policies will be vital in determining their impact. Requiring data brokers to vet clients shows progress towards accountability. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds and what it means for US data security. Let’s hope this order leads to more actions to enhance data privacy for all Americans.