President Biden Takes Action to Restrict Sale of Sensitive American Data to China and Russia
In a groundbreaking move, President Biden issued an executive order on Wednesday aimed at limiting the sale of sensitive American data to countries like China, Russia, and four others. This unprecedented action is designed to prevent personally identifying information from falling into the wrong hands and being used for blackmail, scams, or other harmful purposes.
The executive order specifically targets the sale of information about Americans’ locations, health, genetics, financial data, biometric data, and other sensitive information to countries like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela, as well as any entities linked to these nations. The White House emphasized that this type of data could be used for blackmail, especially against individuals in the military or national security community, as well as dissidents, journalists, and academics.
According to a senior administration official, countries like China and Russia have been acquiring this kind of data from brokers and other corporate relationships, using it for blackmail and surveillance purposes. The White House highlighted the potential use of artificial intelligence by these countries to enhance their exploitation of the information.
This executive order is the latest development in the digital cold war between the United States and China, with previous actions including restrictions on Chinese hardware manufacturers and efforts to regulate the popular app TikTok. The United States has also imposed restrictions on American investments in sensitive technology development in China.
The move reflects a global trend of countries seeking to control data for their protection and economic benefit. Governments in Europe have implemented data localization requirements, while Russia has built infrastructure to enable internet censorship.
While the United States has historically taken a more relaxed approach to regulating internet data flow, this executive order signals a shift towards greater protection of sensitive information. The rules outlined in the order will undergo a public feedback process before being finalized by the Justice Department.
Despite these restrictions, concerns remain about the ability of restricted countries to access American data through other means. The FBI director has previously warned that China has likely stolen personal data from a significant portion of American adults, highlighting the ongoing challenges in safeguarding sensitive information in the digital age.
President Biden’s executive order marks a significant step towards protecting American data from foreign exploitation and ensuring greater privacy and security for individuals in an increasingly interconnected world.
