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Donald Trump and data privacy are two things not usually said in the same sentence.
Will Trump reverse any of Joe Biden’s policies?
Will he u-turn on campaign promises?
How much influence will Vice President JD Vance or tech billionaire Elon Musk have?
It’s one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, making it great for streaming.
There’s more than 7,000 servers in 118 countries and some plans include Threat Protection Pro.
The first Trump administration’s approach to data privacy was mixed.
In 2019, Facebook was fined $5 billion for violating consumer privacy.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had been investigating the company as part of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Facebook was also instructed to set up an independent privacy committee and implement new privacy structures.
Trump first proposed banning the app back in 2020.
Despite Trump launching the first salvo against the Chinese social media app, he has now reversed his stance.
The first Trump administration also criticised the EU’s GDPR rules, arguing it provided cover to cybercriminals.
In 2017, Trump repealed Federal Communications Commission regulations which protected online privacy.
National security often garners cross-party support, and in 2018, Huawei and ZTE were designated as security threats.
Concerns around foreign countries accessing the data of Americans didn’t seem to stop foul data practices at home.
The body consists of both Republican and Democratic commissioners, with the Chairperson nominated by the President.
Current FTC Chair, the Democrat Lina Khan, is to resign in the coming weeksaccording to Reuters.
Trump’s nomination, Andrew Ferguson, has eyed tackling online censorship and protecting freedom of speech.
He could also shift the course in cases against Meta and Amazon.
Republican FTC commissioners have called Khan’s approaches too aggressive.
Beyond this, and complaints about the EU’s legislation, data privacy receives little attention.
Abortion surveillance
The overturning of Roe vs Wade in 2022 dramatically changed reproductive law in the US.
Only 9 states have no limits on abortion and many are worried about the privacy of reproductive data.
Project 2025 has called for a more comprehensive monitoring of pregnancies that “end in foetal death.”
X called the complaints “unwarranted” and claims to have given users more control over their data.
Data privacy at a federal or state level?
Currently, there are no country-wide data privacy laws, with legislation being the responsibility of individual states.
20 states havepassed comprehensive data privacy laws, but these differ in their approach.
The 2024American Privacy Rights Actwas a cross-party effort to create a federal privacy framework.
They mask your IP address and can make it appear as though you’re in a different country.
This is very useful for accessing blocked content and navigating censorship.
PIA is one of thebest US VPNsfor those in America.
It’s a US-based VPN veteran and is the only VPN to offer servers in every US state.
It has a proven no-logs policy and allows you to protect an unlimited number of devices.
Consider using one of thebest encrypted messaging appsto communicate with friends and family.
As well as this, always reject optional cookies and trackers, only agreeing to what is absolutely necessary.
Finally, just be aware of what you’re sharing.
Always think twice about what you’re sharing and ensure you’re always completely comfortable with it.
These features provide you with fake information that can be inputted online, meaning your real information stays hidden.
Trump’s often contradictory behaviour means his actions are unpredictable.
What is clear is how important it is for Americans to take action over their personal data.
Use VPNs and the best encrypted messaging apps.
All of these steps are vital in protecting your data privacy at a time of uncertainty.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses.
For example: 1.
Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).
Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services.
Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
