WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Protecting Military Service Members’ Data Act of 2023 to protect the data of U.S. service members by preventing data brokers from selling lists of military personnel to adversarial nations including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

“U.S. service members’ data is a national security and privacy issue,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Enemies like China and Russia should not be able to buy this information. Our law prohibits them from acquiring and using this information to do us harm.”

“Right now, Big Tech companies and data brokers are free to sell sensitive personal information from our servicemembers to the highest bidder, including adversarial nations,” said Senator Warren. “This bipartisan legislation will empower the FTC to protect our servicemembers’ personal data.”

“It is common sense to prevent big data companies and shady brokers from selling information about our military personnel to foreign adversaries who can use that information to harm our nation. This bill would protect the privacy of service-members and mitigate this obvious national security risk,” said Senator Rubio.

Cassidy’s legislation prohibits data brokers from selling, reselling, trading, licensing, or providing for consideration lists of military service members to adversarial nations. Data brokers openly and explicitly advertise data on millions of Americans, many from sensitive populations such as U.S. military personnel. Today, lists of military personnel, as well as information on their addresses, political beliefs, and lifestyle choices, can legally be sold to adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran, threatening our national security. 

The legislation:

• Gives the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) power to include other relevant vulnerable groups
• Gives the FTC enforcement power under the Unfair and Deceptive Acts of Practices

Background

Cassidy previously introduced the Data Elimination and Limiting Extensive Tracking and Exchange (DELETE) Act to protect Americans’ private online data; the Terms-of-service Labeling, Design and Readability (TLDR) Act to require commercial websites and mobile apps to create a simple and readable summary of their terms-of-service agreements; and the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act to protect our children’s privacy. He also demanded transparency from Amazon on their biometric data collection practices.