WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Rick Scott and Catherine Cortez Masto introduced the American Privacy Protection (APP) Act to require digital apps to disclose their country of origin. Following recent security concerns about apps made by U.S. adversaries, including Communist China and Russia, the APP Act will require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ensure all entities that operate application platforms disclose the location in which the application was developed and where data collected by the application is stored.

Earlier this year, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Tammy Baldwin to introduce a bipartisan resolution calling on Americans to buy products made in the U.S. whenever possible in order to support American jobs and manufacturing, and help build up the U.S. supply chain. They also introduced the bipartisan Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Online Act to ensure that all goods sold online list their country of origin to allow American consumers to make informed decisions, and help promote goods that are made in America.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Apps backed by our adversaries, including TikTok and WeChat, pose huge security risks to Americans’ data and security. American consumers should know where the apps they download are created, and where the data being collected is stored. I’m proud to join Senator Cortez Masto today to introduce the APP Act and make sure Americans have the information available to protect themselves from this risk.”

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto said, “As smart phones play a bigger role in Nevadans’ everyday lives, consumers are increasingly sharing their personal data with unknown app developers – sometimes with companies in Russia, China or elsewhere – that might share Nevadans’ personal data with those governments. This bill will help identify who is developing our phones’ applications and allow us to see where our personal information is stored.”

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