Oppose the RESTRICT Act

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act (the RESTRICT Act), which was introduced by Senators Warner and Thune on March 7, 2023. The RESTRICT Act would give the Secretary of Commerce and the President sweeping powers to ban or restrict any information and communications technology (ICT) product or service that is owned or controlled by a foreign adversary, or that poses an undue or unacceptable risk to national security or the safety of U.S. persons. It would also allow the President to compel divestment of any covered holding that poses such a risk. While I share the concern about the potential threat posed by foreign ICT products and services, I believe that the RESTRICT Act goes too far and gives too much unchecked authority to the executive branch. It would undermine due process, judicial review, and congressional oversight. It would also create uncertainty and confusion for U.S. businesses and consumers, and potentially harm our economic interests and competitiveness. Moreover, I do not think that the RESTRICT Act is an effective or proportionate response to the challenge of data privacy. If this is about data privacy, it should be about data privacy, but this is just a redux of the Patriot Act, which I do not approve of. The Patriot Act was passed in the aftermath of 9/11 and granted broad surveillance powers to the government, but it did not prevent further terrorist attacks or protect our civil liberties. Similarly, the RESTRICT Act would not address the root causes of data privacy issues or protect our digital rights. Therefore, I urge you to oppose the RESTRICT Act and instead support legislation that would enhance data privacy and security in a balanced and transparent way, such as the Consumer Data Privacy and Security Act or the SAFE DATA Act. These bills would establish a comprehensive federal data privacy framework that would protect consumers' personal information, promote innovation, and foster trust in the digital economy. Thank you for your attention and your service to our state.