The bill called “Restricting Emerging Security Threats That Compromise Information and Communication Technology (RESTRICT)” submitted to the US Congress could have serious consequences for VPN service users from the United States.
The relevant document was published in early March – presented by Senators Mark Warner (Democratic Party) and John Thune (Republican Party).
Under the bill, the U.S. Department of Commerce will designate information and communications technology products that “show any interest in a foreign enemy or pose an unacceptable risk to national security.”
By a foreign enemy, the authors of the initiative mean only certain countries: China (besides Hong Kong), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela. The bill targets eligible software with a user base of over 1 million in the US. As punishment for breaking the law, senators offer fines of up to one million dollars, or 20 years in prison, or both.
According to experts, the text of the bill is as broad as possible. For example, it contains vague phrases with multiple interpretations, such as “mobile apps”, “game platforms”, “payment solutions” and “desktop and web apps”. VPN users if the attempt is accepted facing a fine and jail time trying to bypass potential unblocking of enemy countries’ sites.