# 2024-31486: DOJ Builds Digital Wall to Keep Foreign Spies Away 2024-31486, Preventing Access to U.S. Sensitive Personal Data and Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern or Covered Persons, is a Federal Register rule from an unnamed agency published 2025-01-08, effective 2025-04-08 (as of 2026-06-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2024-31486 - As of: 2026-06-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2024-31486 - Title: Preventing Access to U.S. Sensitive Personal Data and Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern or Covered Persons - Type: Rule - Agencies: unknown - Citation: unknown - Published: 2025-01-08 - Effective: 2025-04-08 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: no - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-06-11 ## In one line DOJ Builds Digital Wall to Keep Foreign Spies Away ## Summary Starting April 8, 2025, the Department of Justice is blocking certain countries and people from accessing sensitive U.S. personal and government data to keep Americans safe. This new rule affects businesses and data brokers who handle this info, making sure they follow strict limits on sharing or selling it. No big costs are expected, but everyone involved needs to get ready for these important changes. ## Abstract The Department of Justice is issuing a final rule to implement Executive Order 14117 of February 28, 2024 (Preventing Access to Americans' Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government- Related Data by Countries of Concern), by prohibiting and restricting certain data transactions with certain countries or persons. ## Effects PRIA read - Ban on Certain Data Transactions: benefit, medium. Starting April 8, 2025, the Department of Justice prohibits certain transactions that involve United States Government-related data or bulk U.S. sensitive personal data when a foreign country or national has an interest. The rule covers acquisition, holding, use, transfer, transportation, exportati… - Prohibition on Certain Data-Brokerage Sales: benefit, medium. The rule prohibits certain commercial data-brokerage transactions that would provide access to government-related data or bulk U.S. sensitive personal data to countries of concern or covered persons. Data brokers and purchasers who trade in such bulk data will be subject to these prohibitions. - Security Conditions on Deals and Contracts: cost, medium. The rule imposes predefined security requirements on certain restricted transactions, including investment, employment, and vendor agreements that involve government-related data or bulk U.S. sensitive personal data. Such transactions will be allowed only to the extent they meet those security requ… - Licenses and Advisory Opinions Process: mixed, low. The Department will issue general and specific licenses and advisory opinions to authorize otherwise prohibited or restricted transactions and may modify or rescind those licenses. Businesses and other U.S. persons can seek these licenses to pursue transactions that would otherwise be barred or res… - Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Audits: cost, medium. The rule establishes recordkeeping and reporting requirements, due diligence obligations for restricted transactions, audits, and reports to be furnished on demand, including reports on rejected prohibited transactions. It also establishes penalties and a compliance and enforcement regime. - Exemptions for Official and Critical Transactions: benefit, low. The rule exempts certain transactions from its prohibitions and restrictions, including transactions conducted for the official business of the United States Government by employees, grantees, or contractors, and transactions under grants, contracts, or other agreements with the U.S. Government, in… - Designation of Countries and Covered Persons: cost, low. The rule establishes a process to identify and designate 'countries of concern' and classes of 'covered persons' whose access to government-related data or bulk U.S. sensitive personal data poses a national security risk. 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