Biden issues Executive Order Safeguards American Data

Biden issues Executive Order Safeguards American Data/Reuters

Biden issues Executive Order Safeguards American Data

President Joe Biden’s administration took a decisive step on Wednesday with a new executive order designed to safeguard American personal data. The order, motivated by national security concerns, aims to restrict the transfer of crucial information to countries like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.

Biden issues Executive Order: Curbing Data Transfers to Countries of Concern

This groundbreaking order specifically targets the bulk transfers of Americans’ geolocation, biometric, health, and financial information. Data brokers and other entities will face restrictions on transferring sensitive data to the aforementioned countries. Notably, the order prohibits the transfer of any volume of data on U.S. government personnel to these countries.

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Biden issues Executive Order: Addressing National Security Gaps

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, officials emphasized that China and Russia were acquiring sensitive American personal data through legal means, creating a significant gap in national security. The executive order seeks to fill this void, acknowledging that the current legality of buying data through brokers poses a risk to national security.

Biden issues Executive Order: Balancing Security and Economic Activity

To strike a balance between security and economic activity, the order includes exemptions for certain types of data, such as corporate payroll and compliance. Additionally, transactions like cloud services, employment, and investment agreements will be permitted, subject to stringent security requirements such as encryption and anonymization.

This latest move reflects Washington’s ongoing efforts to restrict the flow of American data to China, especially amidst the trade and technology tensions between the two nations. The order also empowers the Department of Justice to involve industry stakeholders in the decision-making process, ensuring a comprehensive approach to protecting American data.