US Strengthens Data Security: Blocking China, Russia, and Iran from Accessing Bulk American Data

On Monday, the U.S. Justice Department introduced new regulations to safeguard federal government data and bulk personal data of Americans from countries like China, Iran, and Russia. These rules will impose restrictions on specific business transactions in order to prevent foreign adversaries from obtaining American financial, genomic, and health data for malicious purposes such as cyber attacks, espionage, and blackmail. 

President Joe Biden's executive order earlier this year laid the groundwork for these regulations, which also extend to Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea. This initiative reflects the ongoing efforts to prevent the unauthorized transfer of American personal data to China, a key point of contention in the trade and technology disputes between the two nations.

In 2018, China's Ant Financial's plan to acquire U.S. money transfer company MoneyGram International was rejected by a U.S. panel due to concerns over the safety of data that could potentially identify U.S. citizens and pose national security threats. Transactions with data brokers who transfer information to "countries of concern" are now banned, along with the transfer of any data on U.S. government personnel.

The new proposal outlines specific details of the types and amounts of data that cannot be transferred, including human genomic data of over 100 Americans, personal health or financial data of over 10,000 individuals, and precise geolocation data of over 1,000 U.S. devices. The Justice Department will enforce compliance with both criminal and civil penalties. U.S. officials also warned that Chinese apps like TikTok could violate the proposal if they transfer sensitive data from U.S. users to their Chinese parent company.

 

DoJ Issues Rulemaking to Protect Americans’ Personal Data

On October 21, 2024, the Department of Justice (DoJ) introduced a new rule aimed at safeguarding Americans' sensitive data from being sold or transferred to adversarial countries. This proposed rule is a crucial part of President Biden's executive order, "Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern," issued in February. 

In March, the Justice Department released a draft of the rule in response to Congress' inability to pass comprehensive privacy legislation. The new rule identifies China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela as countries of concern, as their access to certain data poses a threat to national security. The DoJ's proposed rule sets out clear guidelines for data transactions that could risk providing these countries or individuals with access to government-related or sensitive personal data. The aim is to prevent the large-scale transfer of such data to these specific countries. 

The proposed rule outlines various categories of prohibited and restricted transactions, identifies countries and individuals subject to the rule, lists exempt transaction categories, provides details on bulk threshold determination methodology, offers an initial assessment of economic and regulatory impacts, establishes procedures for issuing licenses for select transactions, offering advisory opinions, and designating covered individuals, and outlines requirements for recordkeeping, reporting, and due diligence obligations related to covered transactions, as detailed by the Department of Justice.

The White House and lawmakers have taken steps to ban TikTok on government-issued devices due to data privacy concerns, but the rule does not extend to all apps or social media platforms from foreign adversaries. The program is focused on addressing serious data security risks and the National Security Division of the Department of Justice is seeking public feedback on the proposed rule within 30 days. They are inviting input from industry groups, trade associations, experts, and others who may be impacted by the rule.

US Potential Ban on Asian Countries: An Eye-opener on the Need For Robust Cybersecurity Practices

The new rules unveiled by the US to block China, Russia, and Iran from accessing bulk US data highlight the ongoing importance of cybersecurity in today's interconnected world. It is crucial for individuals and organizations to stay vigilant against cyber threats and take necessary measures to protect their data.

Secure Your Data: Expert Guidance Awaits!

In today’s digital landscape, protecting your data is more crucial than ever. At The SamurAI, we specialize in helping individuals and organizations enhance their cybersecurity measures against emerging threats. If you want to learn more about safeguarding your sensitive information from foreign adversaries, schedule a consultation with our experts. We offer tailored strategies and best practices designed to keep your data secure. Don’t wait until it’s too late—take proactive steps to ensure your peace of mind. Stay informed, stay protected, and stay cyber-safe. Contact us now!