- 17:00Israel vows to strike Iran again if threatened, defense minister warns
- 16:20Morocco sees record 8.9 million tourists in first half of 2025
- 15:50Morocco aims to secure five-month wheat stock amid price drop
- 15:20Macron and Starmer to sign historic nuclear deterrence pact
- 14:50Chemsedine Talbi completes Sunderland move after stellar Club Brugge season
- 14:20Police in Marrakech detain Algerian-French suspect wanted by Interpol
- 13:30EU unveils stockpiling plan to prepare for crises and conflict
- 12:50Spain eases lockdowns as firefighters stabilize Catalonia forest blaze
- 12:20Spaniards favor China over the US in shifting global perceptions
Follow us on Facebook
Biden Issues Decree Limiting Sale of Personal Data to Certain Countries
President Joe Biden has signed a decree aimed at curbing the mass sale of American personal data to specific "countries of concern," particularly targeting the sale of geolocation, genomic, financial, biometric, health, and other personally identifiable information to Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela. The order addresses national security risks posed by the multibillion-dollar data broker industry, which has long operated with minimal oversight.
The decree prohibits data brokers and other companies from directly or indirectly selling large quantities of American personal information to the mentioned countries. Furthermore, it allows for the imposition of additional restrictions on companies' ability to sell data as part of cloud service contracts, investment agreements, and employment contracts.
However, the enforcement of these new measures by the Justice Department remains unclear. Currently, there is limited regulation governing the data broker industry, and the order will not completely halt the widespread sale of American data to countries and companies not deemed "at risk." Researchers and privacy advocates have repeatedly warned of national security risks associated with data brokers. A recent report revealed that Duke University researchers were able to easily purchase a significant trove of personal and medical records on U.S. military personnel while posing as foreign agents.
Biden's decree aims to address vulnerabilities in Americans' privacy protections from foreign exploitation or surveillance. Nonetheless, striking a balance between data-driven economic interests and security concerns will necessitate clarifying enforcement measures and expanding regulatory oversight of this lucrative yet shadowy industry.