President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order aimed at preventing foreign entities from accessing large amounts of Americans’ personal data. This decision comes amid growing concerns over the potential exploitation of this data for commercial and military purposes, particularly by countries such as China and Russia. As reported by Bloomberg Law, the order will be enacted on Wednesday.
The new legislation seeks to protect sensitive information relating to individuals’ health, location, financial status, as well as behavioural patterns like voice or keystrokes. This type of personal data typically could be procured from sources like data brokers, third-party vendors, and employers.
Following the implementation of this order, certain countries, termed “countries of concern”, would be prohibited from acquiring large tranches of such data. The objective is to curb the potential for espionage and blackmail by entities that could exploit the personal information of American citizens.
As part of the executive order, US Attorney General Merrick Garland will be authorised to issue new restrictions to further fortify data security against foreign threats.
The move highlights the escalating concern about data security at a national level, reflecting the growing significance of personal data in geopolitics. Furthermore, it underscores the need for greater regulatory control over personal data, including who can access, purchase, or otherwise obtain such information.