Security News > 2024 > February > New executive order bans mass sale of personal data to China, Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that aims to ban the bulk sale and transfer of Americans' private data to "Countries of concern" such as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.
"Our adversaries are exploiting Americans' sensitive personal data to threaten our national security. They are purchasing this data to use to blackmail and surveil individuals, target those they view as dissidents here in the United States, and engage in other malicious activities," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
"This Executive Order gives the Justice Department the authority to block countries that pose a threat to our national security from harvesting Americans' most sensitive personal data-including human genomic data, biometric and personal identifiers, and personal health and financial data."
"Countries of concern can also access Americans' sensitive personal data to collect information on activists, academics, journalists, dissidents, political figures, and members of non-governmental organizations and marginalized communities to intimidate opponents of countries of concern, curb dissent, and limit Americans' freedom of expression and other civil liberties."
Since the start of the year, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has also banned two data brokers from selling Americans' precise location data that could be used for tracking purposes.
The actions were in response to data brokers regularly exposing individuals' location data and revealing much more sensitive information, such as religious affiliations and medical visits.