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Presidential Executive Order Gives Authority to Block Foreign Tech that Poses Risks to National Security

Presidential Executive Order Gives Authority to Block Foreign Tech that Poses Risks to National Security

Created: Tuesday, May 21, 2019 - 14:29
Categories:
Cybersecurity, Federal & State Resources

President Trump has signed the executive order “Securing the Information and Comunications Technology and Services Supply Chain,” which gives the federal government the authority to block telecommunications or information technology that are deemed an “unacceptable risk” to national security. The executive order doesn’t specifically mention Huawei, but concerns about the potential security implications of U.S. companies using components from the Chinese tech giant, as well as from other Chinese manufacturers, in their infrastructure undoubtedly contributed to its release. Under the executive order, the Commerce Department has 150 days to devise regulations for transactions that could compromise national security. In consultation with other departments and agencies, the Commerce Department is charged with prohibiting transactions that involve “information and communications technology or services designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied, by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary” and pose “an undue risk of sabotage to or subversion of the design, integrity, manufacturing, production, distribution, installation, operation, or maintenance of information and communications technology or services in the United States,” “an undue risk of catastrophic effects on the security or resiliency of United States critical infrastructure or the digital economy of the United States,” or “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons.” Read the Executive Order at the White House.