RESTRICT Act: Beyond the TikTok Ban - Implications for Freedom and Technology

Explore the implications of the RESTRICT Act in this 59-minute conference talk from the Electronic Frontiers Forums at DragonCon. Delve beyond the initial portrayal as a TikTok ban to understand the act's broader scope and potential consequences. Examine the severe penalties proposed for using apps vaguely categorized as originating from foreign adversaries and posing national security risks. Analyze the potential threats to freedom of speech, privacy, and widely-used technologies like VPNs and encryption. Join panelists James Nettles and Corynne McSherry as they dissect the complexities of this legislation and its far-reaching impact on digital rights and everyday technology use.

Syllabus

[Fri. am] Originally billed as a TikTok ban, the RESTRICT Act creates severe penalties for using apps nebulously deemed to be from foreign adversaries that could pose a national security risk. What are the risks to freedom of speech, privacy, and common, everyday technologies such as VPN's and encryption?