United States Rubio Tender

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio R-FL and Ron Wyden D-OR today requested the Department of Homeland Security DHS conduct a threat assessment of the national security risks stemming from foreign-made Virtual Private Network VPN apps that are affiliated with countries of national security concern including China.In a letter to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Christopher Krebs Rubio and Wyden noted the potential vulnerabilities involved with federal government employees using foreign-made apps that could easily be surveilled by foreign governments like China and Russia.Millions of consumers have downloaded these apps some of which are made by foreign companies in countries that do not share American interests or values. Because these foreign apps transmit users web-browsing data to servers located in or controlled by countries that have an interest in targeting U.S. government employees their use raises the risk that user data will be surveilled by foreign governments. The compromise of that data could harm U.S. national security the senators wrote.If DHS determines federal workers face security risks from certain foreign-made VPN apps Rubio and Wyden requested the agency issue a Binding Operational Directive banning their use on federal government smartphones and computers.