Biden issues executive order to protect Americans’ data from countries of concern

U.S. President Joe Biden today signed an executive order blocking mass transfers of Americans’ personal data to countries of concern.

White House announced Today’s move. Engadget reported. The countries of concern that are the focus of the executive order are Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela. The executive order directs several federal agencies to establish regulations that prevent these countries from accessing sensitive data.

Researchers have shown that large amounts of personal information are readily available from data brokers who specialize in selling consumer records.Last November, a study at Duke University found The records on sale include information about military personnel. The study’s authors found that data brokers often do not have safeguards in place to prevent information from being purchased by foreign agents.

Today’s executive order targets multiple types of sensitive personal records. This list includes genomic, biometric, personal health, geolocation, and financial data, as well as certain types of personally identifiable information. The order directs the Department of Justice to issue new regulations prohibiting large-scale sales of such data to countries of concern.

Some of the new rules focus specifically on public sector information. The White House said it would “strengthen the protection of sensitive government data, including the location of sensitive government sites and information about military personnel.”

Another regulatory effort launched by the executive order will focus on preventing the sale of sensitive personal data “by other commercial means.” The White House said those measures will include investments, suppliers and employment relationships. The effort will involve the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.

Additionally, the Departments of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs will work to ensure that sensitive health information is not released to countries of concern through federal grants, contracts, or awards. One of the goals of this effort is to ensure that bad actors cannot access such data through U.S.-based companies.

Team Telecom, the government committee that reviews foreign participation in the U.S. telecommunications sector, will also help push for new regulations. The Executive Order directs the Commission to consider potential risks to Americans’ personal information when reviewing applications for submarine cable licenses. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would similarly be encouraged to take action against data brokers who illegally collect and sell sensitive data.

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