The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously approved legislation aimed at curbing the sale of Americans’ sensitive personal data to foreign adversaries. Sponsored by Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Frank Pallone Jr., the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act empowers the Federal Communications Commission to penalize U.S. data brokers selling information to entities in Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea with civil fines starting at $50,000. The bill seeks to bolster data protections and safeguard national security and individual privacy, responding to concerns about foreign entities exploiting personal data vulnerabilities.
The legislation outlines an extensive definition of sensitive data, including financial account numbers, government-issued identifiers, biometric and genetic information, geolocational data, and health information. Its passage in the House follows President Joe Biden’s recent executive order directing measures to restrict bulk transfers of sensitive personal data to countries of concern, notably China. Multiple administrations have highlighted China’s appetite for American data, with reports revealing data brokers selling nonpublic information about U.S. military personnel at minimal costs, underscoring the urgency of tighter regulations.
This legislative move aligns with a broader U.S. policy shift prioritizing security and digital rights within the digital economy agenda. The House’s approval of this bill follows earlier actions targeting Chinese-owned platforms, such as TikTok, signaling a concerted effort to address data privacy concerns comprehensively. Representatives Rodgers and Pallone assert that this legislation complements ongoing efforts to establish more comprehensive national data privacy laws, highlighting a concerted push in Congress to bolster data protection measures and mitigate risks posed by foreign data exploitation.
