The Commerce Department writes that the export of cybersecurity items to countries of national security or weapons of mass destruction concern will require a license from the department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Countries subject to a US arms embargo and those deemed by the US to have a history of human rights abuses are subject to the same ban.
The rule, set to go into effect 90 days from yesterday (October 20), is being put in place for national security and anti-terrorism reasons. It aims to prevent foreign agents from using US-built tools to hack American businesses, organizations, and government entities.