Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday announced the creation of a new enforcement arm aimed at countering foreign-linked threats to consumers, launching the Consumer Harm from International Nefarious Actors (CHINA) Prevention Unit within his office.
According to Uthmeier, the unit will focus on preventing consumer harm tied to the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries by targeting data privacy risks, deceptive trade practices and economic security threats affecting Floridians. The office said the initiative is designed to proactively identify risks posed by foreign-linked companies operating in Florida markets, rather than responding only after consumer harm occurs.
“Florida will not allow foreign adversaries to exploit our markets, steal our data, and threaten our security,” said Uthmeier. “The focus of this new office will be prevention, which is why we are sending letters to multiple medical device manufacturers to audit and identify any ties with the Chinese Communist Party. If a company is funneling Floridians’ personal information to China or other foreign countries of concern, we will hold them accountable.”
As part of its initial actions, the CHINA Prevention Unit issued a subpoena to fast-fashion retailer Shein over alleged deceptive trade practices and data privacy violations involving Florida consumers. The attorney general’s office also sent letters demanding audits of multiple medical device manufacturers with alleged ties to China, seeking to determine whether sensitive patient data is being transmitted to foreign servers or otherwise exposed.
The announcement builds on prior actions taken by the attorney general’s office against companies including security camera manufacturers, medical device firms and router sellers over alleged data-sharing and cybersecurity concerns. The office also cited recent financial and cyber fraud cases traced to China-based actors, in which funds were recovered or seized.
