The Biden administration is in talks between federal agencies about the security of Americans’ data and whether the US government has the right tools.
In June, President Joe Biden withdrew A series of executive orders under Donald Trump which sought to block new downloads of Chinese-owned WeChat and TikTok platforms.
He also ordered the US Department of Commerce to review the security concerns posed by those apps.
The order set December 6 as the deadline for the Department of Commerce, in consultation with other government agencies, to report on additional executive and legislative actions to address risks associated with connected software applications obtained or accessed by regulated firms or based in countries that are foreign adversaries.
A White House official confirmed to Reuters that the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence presented an initial set of analyzes and recommendations in connection with the matter, without providing details.
The official added that the administration is now engaged in interagency deliberations to ensure that relevant departments and agencies have the tools, authorities, and resources needed to protect Americans’ sensitive data. The administration did not release any of the results.
On November 26, the Commerce Department proposed amending regulations for ICT supply chains to provide additional criteria for implementing Biden’s executive order and determining whether connected software applications pose unacceptable risks.
