Introducing the “PROTECT the Grid Act” to Shield the Power Grid from Foreign Threats
Senator Rick Scott from Florida has launched a new initiative called the Protecting Remote Operations by Threatening Entities on Critical Technology for the Grid, or PROTECT the Grid Act. This legislation is intended to tackle the possible dangers stemming from internet-connected appliances that foreign adversaries, particularly China, might control.
The growing concern revolves around various smart devices—think smart ovens, EV chargers, and even laundry machines—that could potentially be hacked by companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). If they gain access, these devices could be manipulated to interfere with America’s electric grid.
Rick Scott emphasizes that this bill is essential to safeguard American citizens from being held vulnerable by their own technology. He’s vocal about the threat, stating that the CCP could exploit this situation to unexpectedly plunge parts of the country into chaos by simply “flipping a switch.”
The PROTECT the Grid Act empowers the Department of Commerce to look into the CCP’s grip on these devices and how they’ve infiltrated U.S. infrastructure. It also seeks to solidify measures from an Executive Order signed by President Trump back in 2019, which authorized the Secretary of Commerce to restrict or outright ban technologies from foreign entities deemed a risk to national security.
The Coalition for a Prosperous America stands firmly behind this legislation, with its president, Jon Toomey, highlighting that it’s vital for Americans to know who truly controls the tech in their homes and accesses their personal information.
This bill is just the latest in Senator Scott’s campaign against what he perceives to be threats from Communist China, following similar legislative moves aimed at curbing spying, regulating drones and AI technology, and tackling the economic manipulation happening in the U.S.
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