Data Privacy is being a national security issue as more people become the victim of scams, blackmail and other malicious acts through the internet, email and even phone calls. Most people generate a significant digital footprint that can be exploited by hostile actors to the detriment of the US national security interest. This sensitive personal data includes using biometric, financial, genomic, geolocation, or health data, as well as personal identifiers, to understand the patterns of life, spending and purchase habits, financial troubles, desires, likes and dislikes, visits to potentially sensitive locations like places of worship, government facilities, gambling venues, and health clinics of various citizens is purchased or accessed and then used to engage in malicious cyber-enabled activities, espionage, coercion, influence, and blackmail; to build profiles on and target activists, academics, journalists, dissidents, government personnel, political figures, and members of nongovernmental organizations and marginalized communities for surveillance, influence, and intimidation; to curb dissent and for other nefarious purposes. On February 28, 2024 Biden enacted an Executive Order to establish a framework to protect American’s sensative personal data from exploitation by various hostile foreign actors. Contact one of our attorneys if you have questions about your rights or obligations under the EO or if you have been the victirm of a fraud, computer hacking, scam or threat.