WASHINGTON – July 27, 2017 – BSA | The Software Alliance commends Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Dean Heller (R-NV) for their introduction of S. 1671, the International Communications Privacy Act (ICPA) in the Senate. This legislation has an important impact on the future of cloud technology and jobs in the United States.

As the global digital economy continues to grow, data storage, analytics, security, and other services are often provided in the United States by American workers to customers overseas. In this environment, US companies increasingly face the challenge of complying with multiple conflicting privacy laws and regulations for providing access to the data they store abroad. These conflicts undermine consumers’ confidence in tech products and services, while simultaneously creating obstacles for law enforcement’s criminal investigations and prosecutions. ICPA would update the United States’ approach to these challenges by clarifying the rules for how law enforcement can gain access to data stored abroad, while maintaining high standards for privacy and human rights. 

BSA signed a joint industry letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee voicing its support for ICPA. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors and other Members of Congress to pass legislation that modernizes law enforcement access to data stored overseas.