Bill From Wyden, Lummis Targets TikTok’s Foreign Data Access

Bipartisan legislation introduced Wednesday seeks to block foreign access to U.S. data on apps like TikTok. Introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Surveillance Act would direct the Commerce Department to identify sensitive data that could harm national security if exported. The Commerce secretary would compile a list of “low-risk countries, where data can be shared without restrictions, a list of high-risk countries where exports of sensitive data will be blocked, and create a system to issue licenses for data exports to nations not on either list.” The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.; Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.; and Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Reps. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., will introduce companion legislation.