President Biden Issues Executive Order to Safeguard Americans' Personal Data from Hostile Countries

Protecting Personal Data from Hostile Countries: Biden's Executive Order

On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to issue an executive order aimed at safeguarding the personal data of American citizens from countries considered hostile. This order specifically targets the business of trading individuals' personal information, where companies and data brokers collect and exchange data that could be exploited by foreign entities.

Concerns and National Security Risks

The Biden Administration is particularly concerned about the potential misuse of personal data by "countries of concern" which have a history of gathering and misusing information about Americans. There are worries that hostile countries, such as the Chinese Communist Party, could use the amassed U.S. data, including sensitive details like genomic, biometric, health, geolocation, and financial information, to track and pry into the lives of American citizens, including military service members.

This misuse of data could lead to national security risks, privacy violations, counterintelligence threats, and even blackmail, especially for individuals in the military or national security community.

Impact on Civil Liberties

Besides the national security implications, the White House has highlighted the potential impact on civil liberties, expressing concerns that the data could be used to gather information on activists, journalists, political figures, and members of non-governmental organizations and marginalized communities. This could be utilized to intimidate opponents of hostile countries, stifle dissent, and limit freedom of expression and other civil liberties of Americans.

Regulations and Security Standards

The forthcoming executive order will direct the Department of Justice to issue regulations aimed at protecting sensitive data, emphasizing the need for high security standards to prevent access to Americans' data by countries of concern through various commercial means, including data accessible through investment, vendor, and employment relationships.

Telecommunications Sector and Privacy

In addition to these measures, the order will direct the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector to consider the threats to Americans' sensitive personal data when reviewing submarine cable licenses. This underscores the administration's focus on protecting personal data in the telecommunications sector from potential foreign threats.

Alignment with U.S. Policies

The White House has emphasized that these actions align with the U.S.' longstanding support for the free flow of data and its commitment to an open Internet with robust privacy protections and measures to preserve governments' abilities to enforce laws and advance policies in the public interest.

Previous Actions and Congressional Involvement

It's important to note that this executive order follows previous efforts by the Biden administration to enhance cybersecurity, such as the recent order aimed at improving the cybersecurity of U.S. ports. Additionally, Congress has shown interest in addressing privacy risks associated with the data broker industry, with bipartisan lawmakers raising concerns about the collection and distribution methods of companies like Equifax and Oracle.

Conclusion

The forthcoming executive order reflects the Biden Administration's commitment to protecting the personal data of American citizens from exploitation by hostile foreign entities, while also addressing national security risks and preserving civil liberties.