Cassidy: Nation must address access Chinese wearable tech companies have to U.S. consumers

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) warned the administration that China is utilizing wearable technology products to steal personal data from American consumers.

“Chinese smart watches and other devices can stockpile data about a user’s health, finances, location and more,” Sen. Cassidy wrote in a May 31 letter. “American’s private data is not safe in the hands of Chinese companies. We must address this security threat.”

Sen. Cassidy’s letter was sent to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and raised his concerns regarding China’s sale to U.S. consumers of wearable technology products that can gather health data, facial and voice recognition, audio from microphones, geolocation, electronic payment, access control for mass transit systems and smart locks, social media usage, and other sensitive data.

“The data of U.S. consumers who use these devices may end up on Chinese servers where it may be shared with, or accessed by, authorities pursuing Chinese industrial policy and political objectives,” the senator wrote, noting that China’s major wearables brands, Huawei and Xiaomi, also undercut U.S. companies in the market by selling low-cost devices with the plan to rapidly expand their user bases, amass information, and monetize user data.

“In the hands of companies closely linked to China’s government, this information could even have serious implications for U.S. national security and the privacy of U.S. citizens,” wrote Sen. Cassidy.

The lawmaker added that he “strongly” believes that the United States should reconsider the access it permits companies that it suspects are controlled by foreign governments.

“At a minimum, we have a duty to make U.S. consumers aware of the privacy risks of buying a wearable from a Chinese company,” Sen. Cassidy wrote. “I encourage you to take steps to ensure the safety of Americans as the Administration continues [to] negotiate with China on behalf of U.S. consumers and our domestic industries.”