February 12, 2018

Castro & McCaul Introduce Bill Protecting Foreign Service Officers from Unauthorized Surveillance Through Consumer Devices

Washington, D.C.–Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Congressman Michael T. McCaul (TX-10), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security and senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the Protecting Diplomats from Surveillance Through Consumer Devices Act (H.R. 4989) which requires the Department of State to account for location-tracking consumer devices in the broader U.S. embassy and consulate security policies:
 
“Every day, diplomats work to advance the interests of the United States often at embassies and consulates in the most dangerous pockets of the world. They risk their lives to be our nation’s frontline civilians, and are faced with having to adapt to changing technologies that often come with security risks—including location-tracking consumer devices that reveal movements around the world. That’s why we introduced the Protecting Diplomats from Surveillance Through Consumer Devices Act, which requires the State Department to account for these devices in the security policies of U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. As lawmakers, we have a moral responsibility to take all necessary steps to ensure these brave diplomats and development workers have the protections they deserve.”
 
H.R.4989 can be found here.
 
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