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Trump's Executive Order Eliminates Privacy Act Protections For Foreigners (whitehouse.gov)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the huddled-masses-yearning-to-breathe-free dept.

Long-time Slashdot reader Kernel Kurtz writes : January 28 is supposed to be Data Privacy Day, so it seems fitting in an alternative sort of way that U.S. President Trump just signed an executive order that eliminates Privacy Act protections for foreigners. As a non-American, I find it curious that the person who says he wants to bring jobs to America is simply confirming the post-Snowden belief that America is not a safe place to do business.
The Privacy Act has been in place since 1974. But now section 14 of Trump's "Enhancing Public Safety" executive order directs federal agencies to "ensure that their privacy policies exclude persons who are not United States citizens or lawful permanent residents from the protections of the Privacy Act regarding personally identifiable information" to the extent consistent with applicable law.

4 of 952 comments (clear)

  1. Amazing how much he fucked up in just 10 days by Lisandro · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Seriously, ban legal, visa-holder residents for 90 days? Was he expecting that not to turn into a shitshow?

    This is what happens when you let Bannon write foreign policy.

    1. Re: Amazing how much he fucked up in just 10 days by gravewax · · Score: 4, Interesting

      you mean like the leech working for the US military as a Translator that was detained returning to the US? Perhaps you mean the family that helped US military and had to sell up and move to the US because they thought it was the right thing to do only to find the door slammed shut in their face for the sacrifice? That is how you create terrorists, you would think something might have been learnt from the past 40 years of such moronic behaviour, but apparently not.

  2. Re:Trump seems to think Executive Orders... by ClickOnThis · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Trump has to follow either the US Constitution, or whatever Congress decides he's allowed to do.

    What happens if he doesn't adhere to the above? I get the feeling we're about to find out.

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  3. Re:Key Phrase by shanen · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "to the extent consistent with applicable law"

    Once he exercises his free (AKA stolen) pick for the SCOTUS, "applicable law" will mean whatever #PresidentTweety wants it to mean. My prediction is that he will pick whichever candidate can convince him of the highest personal loyalty. It's a variation of how the Donald hires his accountants:

    Trump: "How much is 2 + 2?"
    Winning accountant: "How much do you want it to be?"

    Trump: "Are my executive orders legal?"
    Winning judge: "How legal do you want them to be?"

    Welcome to the Donald's latest pseudo-reality program. The ratings are YUGE. It's on ALL the channels and in ALL the newspapers. Even international!

    I actually see this as a market opportunity. Whereas CNN promises the most disaster porn, I'm looking for a news source that promises the least possible amount of Trump news. Only the stuff that REALLY can't be ignored.

    Oh, wait. That's just what he wants, isn't it?

    (Prior search for "funny" was disappointed. Ditto "insightful", but maybe it's just too early.)

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