[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 191 (Monday, December 2, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Cyber Security

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, allow me to begin on a topic that doesn't 
currently concern legislation or nominees on the floor but one that 
does concern our national security and the privacy of the American 
people.
  Over the summer, I requested a review of the potential risks posed by 
FaceApp, a widely used Russian-based mobile application that requires 
the full and irrevocable access of its users' photos and data. Very 
recently, the FBI responded to my request in writing, warning that the 
FBI ``considers any mobile application or similar product developed in 
Russia, such as FaceApp, to be a potential counterintelligence threat, 
based on the data the product collects, its privacy and terms-of-use 
policies, and the legal mechanisms available to the Government of 
Russia that permit access to data within Russia's borders.''
  Let me repeat this. These are the FBI's words in a letter sent to me 
just in the last few hours; that the FBI ``considers,'' their words, 
``any mobile application or similar product developed in Russia, such 
as FaceApp, to be a potential counterintelligence threat.''
  The letter went on to say that the FBI is prepared to address foreign 
influence operations involving FaceApp against elected officials, 
candidates, political campaigns, and political parties.
  In light of the FBI's warning, I strongly urge all Americans to 
consider deleting apps like FaceApp immediately and proceed with 
extreme caution when downloading apps from foreign countries that are 
known adversaries. The personal data that FaceApp collects from a 
user's device could end up in the hands of Russian intelligence 
services. It is simply not worth the risk.
  Americans should be aware of the risks posed by certain mobile apps, 
particularly those developed in foreign countries that are known 
adversaries, before they download them. The FBI didn't name other 
countries, but I would certainly name not only Russia but China, Iran, 
and there are others.
  Please, Americans, be careful, and let us let all of our intelligence 
agencies pursue this potential danger to America and ensure that it 
doesn't endanger our national security.