
Data in motion vs data at rest.
On December 8, the US House of Representatives passed an annual intelligence policy authorization bill (H.R.6480). The measure contains a provision establishing an interagency committee to counter «active measures by Russia to exert covert influence». The document says it takes the form of «media manipulation», «misinformation», «forgeries», «assassinations», «terrorist acts» etc. No Russian diplomat has ever been accused of «assassinations», «terrorist acts» but that is the language the authors of the bill used.
The measure restricts the movements of Russian diplomats in the United States. It reads, «The Secretary of State shall, in coordination with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Director of National Intelligence, establish a mandatory advance notification regime governing all travel by accredited diplomatic and consular personnel of the Russian Federation in the United States and take necessary action to secure full compliance by Russian personnel and address any noncompliance». The Secretary of State, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of National Intelligence shall develop written mechanisms to share information. The previous version of the document (H.R. 6393) passed on November 30 said the permitted travel distance was 25 miles (40.23 km) from the diplomats’ official posts. The new text does not contain this provision.