On February 28, President Joe Biden of the United States issued an executive order restricting the transfer of Americans' personal data to China, Russia, and other \"countries of concern.\" U.S. officials explained that this move is designed to protect sensitive American personal data from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries engaged in activities such as malicious cyber operations, espionage, and blackmail.
At first glance, it appears reasonable for a government to safeguard the personal data security of its citizens—a practice adopted by many countries worldwide. However, a closer examination of the executive order suggests that the Biden administration may have underlying ideological motives, reflecting a broader hostility towards certain nations.
The United States has long adhered to a doctrine of \"easy to come by, hard to offer up\" when it comes to data flow. This approach promotes the free flow of inbound data to the U.S. for its own economic benefits while advocating for \"decoupling\" and imposing restrictions on outbound data that conflict with its interests. The term \"national security\" often serves as a convenient justification for such supervision.
In addition to the recent executive order, American lawmakers have proposed the \"American Data Privacy and Protection Act,\" which aims to protect local corporate and national data by preventing its transfer to China and Russia. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has been granted extensive authority to oversee and restrict foreign-invested entities. This includes requiring security agreements, limiting communications infrastructure to U.S. locations, and mandating that various types of information be stored exclusively within the U.S.
Contrarily, the U.S. aggressively promotes the global flow of data into its borders, positioning itself as a massive data hub. It often urges target countries to adhere to principles of \"non-discrimination\" and oppose data localization. This strategy facilitates American technology companies in acquiring vast amounts of data, bolstering their competitive edge.
Furthermore, the widespread distribution of servers and cloud computing centers operated by Silicon Valley giants around the globe effectively turns them into American \"overseas military bases\" in the digital age. These facilities collect substantial amounts of data from host countries and transfer it back to the U.S., often disregarding the data sovereignty and national security concerns of other nations. In this manner, the United States incrementally increases its data assets by infringing upon the data sovereignty of other countries, reminiscent of the expansionist practices of Western colonizers centuries ago.
In conclusion, while the stated intent of the U.S. executive order is to protect American citizens, the broader implications suggest a strategic maneuver to dominate global data flows and undermine the data sovereignty of other nations. This dual approach not only enhances the United States' data assets but also raises significant concerns about the erosion of global data privacy and security standards.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
