United States of America: Passed Protecting Americans Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 (HR 7520)

On 20 March 2024, the Protecting Americans Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 (HR 7520) was passed by the House of Representatives. The Act would prohibit data brokers from selling, licensing, renting, trading, transferring, disclosing or making available sensitive data to foreign adversaries or entities under foreign adversary control. The sensitive data includes information that could potentially harm an individual's privacy, security, or well-being, such as government-issued identifiers, health-related data, financial details, biometric and genetic information, precise geolocation data, private communications, login credentials, sexual behaviour, personal media, and other identifiable information revealing an individual's characteristics or activities and status in the armed forces. The Act grants enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission, enabling the agency to pursue civil penalties exceeding USD 50'000 for each violation of this prohibition by a data broker.