The Senate Commerce Committee needs to meet with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Senate Intelligence Committee before deciding on potentially marking up TikTok-related national security legislation, Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told reporters Thursday (see 2403130039).
Russia export controls and sanctions
The use of export controls and sanctions on Russia has surged since the country's invasion of Crimea in 2014, and especially its invasion of Ukraine in in February 2022. Similar export controls and sanctions have been imposed by U.S. allies, including the EU, U.K. and Japan. The following is a listing of recent articles in Export Compliance Daily on export controls and sanctions imposed on Russia:
The FCC is investigating the extent to which U.S. mobile devices are still processing signals from China’s BeiDou, Russia’s GLONASS and other foreign adversaries’ global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel told reporters Thursday. House China Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., pressed the FCC on the item earlier this week (see 2403120073). The FCC’s investigation includes all major U.S. device suppliers, including Apple, Google, Motorola, Nokia and Samsung, a commission spokesperson said. FCC commissioners unanimously approved a voluntary cyber trust mark program based on National Institute of Standards and Technology criteria during their meeting Thursday (see 2403140034).
The House Communications Subcommittee unanimously advanced the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (HR-820), Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhancing Networks Act (HR-1513) and two other anti-China communications security bills Tuesday. House China Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., meanwhile, is pressing the FCC on whether it will act on reports that mobile devices in the U.S. are still processing signals from China’s BeiDou and Russia’s global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).
The House will vote Wednesday on legislation that would ban TikTok in the U.S. unless Chinese parent company ByteDance divests the popular social media app, an aide for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., confirmed Tuesday.
The House Commerce Committee on Thursday unanimously passed legislation (see 2403050051) that could lead to a U.S. ban on the popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok. The legislation is poised for floor action after gaining public support from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Thursday.
The House Commerce Committee on Thursday will mark up two national security-related bills targeting TikTok, including one from Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J.
President Joe Biden should recommend the FCC establish minimum cybersecurity standards for wireless carriers to protect Americans' cellphone data from surveillance by China, Russia and other countries, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wrote the White House Thursday. Wyden detailed how foreign entities have allegedly exploited flaws in “obscure technologies” like diameter and signaling system 7, which wireless companies use for texting and roaming purposes around the world. The FCC should “require companies buying access to SS7 and Diameter by leasing Global Titles to comply with registration and know your customer requirements,” he said. Global titles are unique addresses carriers use to route signaling messages. Wyden also urged OMB to “establish minimum cybersecurity standards for wireless services purchased by federal agencies.” The White House didn’t comment.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order directing DOJ to establish rules blocking large-scale transfers of Americans’ personal data to entities in hostile nations.
A NASA satellite studying the atmosphere and Russia's Cosmos 2221 satellite safely passed one another without incident early Wednesday, NASA blogged. The agency warned previously that the two satellites, which lack maneuvering capabilities, could collide. A collision "could result in significant debris generation," NASA said.
Former FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor is citing the extensive Thursday outages on AT&T’s wireless network (see 2402220058) as a reason for Congress to approve the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-3413/S-1669). The measure would require a Transportation Department mandate for inclusion of AM radio technology in future vehicles. HR-3413/S-1669 continues to face obstacles in both chambers, though S-1669 lead GOP sponsor and Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other supporters have eyed alternate routes to pass it this year (see 2401050065). “Last week’s cell outage and the revelation of Russia’s capacity to disrupt U.S. communications satellites should be a sobering wake-up call to Congress that it is time to pass” HR-3413/S-1669, Gaynor, the acting homeland security secretary during the final eight days of the Trump administration, wrote in an opinion piece for The Hill Saturday. “Here’s hoping Congress listens to the nation’s leading public safety experts and acts before the consequences of inaction become tragically significant.” AM radio “is often the only communication available to those in harm’s way,” especially in disasters when “there was no power and cell towers quickly became overwhelmed,” he said. “That is why it has always been the fail-safe communication system public safety leaders rely upon to keep the citizenry safe and informed -- and why FEMA has cautioned carmakers away from removing AM.” The auto industry “is opposing” HR-3413/S-1669, “arguing that new digital streaming services and cellphones can adequately keep the population informed,” Gaynor said: “However, millions of Americans have limited to no cell coverage on a good day and rely on AM radio stations for critical emergency information.”