Wyden: Spending bill gives foreign access to Americans’ data

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., expressed concern Thursday about the inclusion of the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act in the omnibus spending bill. He said the provision allows foreign governments to directly order American companies to hand over data stored in the U.S., without American oversight.

“Tucked away in the omnibus spending bill is a provision that allows Trump, and any future president, to share Americans’ private emails and other information with countries he personally likes. That means he can strike deals with Russia or Turkey with nearly zero congressional involvement and no oversight by U.S. courts,” Wyden said.

“This bill contains only toothless provisions on human rights that Trump’s cronies can meet by merely checking a box,” the senator added. “It is legislative malpractice that Congress, without a minute of Senate debate, is rushing through the CLOUD Act on this must-pass spending bill.”