WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Monday proposed new rules to protect federal government data or Americans' bulk personal data from getting into the hands of countries like China, Iran and Russia by placing new limits on certain business transactions.

The US is looking to stop certain countries—including China, Russia, and Iran—from buying large amounts of data on Americans, citing the threat of spying and blackmail. The proposed rules, announced Monday by the Justice Department,