In a major move to protect personal data, US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order limiting the federal government’s use of commercial spyware. The order bans the US government from using “backdoor” technology to surveil US citizens or conduct clandestine investigations without prior court approval or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
The executive order is an important step in protecting the privacy of Americans. In a statement, the White House said the order will limit the use of commercial spyware, which can be used to monitor and collect sensitive data such as location, contacts, and communications. Such spyware is often used by governments to track citizens and monitor people’s activity without their knowledge.
The executive order directs federal agencies to ensure that any new surveillance technology they purchase be subject to an open procurement process and that their usage be limited to permissible purposes. It also requires the federal government to identify potential risks associated with the use of commercial surveillance technologies and create frameworks to guide their utilisation.
The move marks the latest step in the Biden administration’s push for greater digital privacy protections for US citizens. The implementation of the executive order is significant, particularly in light of the current crisis of trust between the US government and its citizens.
The order comes in response to growing public concern over US intelligence agencies using advanced surveillance technology to track people without their knowledge or consent. There have been reports of the US government purchasing and using commercial spyware to monitor both foreign and domestic populations.
The executive order is a welcome step in the right direction, but it is only the first step in protecting the privacy of US citizens. The federal government must now take concrete steps to ensure that these new protections are respected and implemented. This includes establishing clear rules and guidelines for the use of such spyware, ensuring that all federal agencies adhere to these rules, and conducting regular audits to ensure agencies are compliant with the new policy.
Ultimately, the Biden administration’s executive order limits the government’s use of commercial spyware and provides a foundation for greater protection of US citizens’ data. It is a major step in the right direction towards guaranteeing the privacy of Americans, and it serves as an important reminder that the US government must be held to a high standard of transparency and accountability when it comes to collecting and using data.
