WASHINGTON – BSA Senior Vice President, US Government Relations, Craig Albright issued the following statement following the introduction of legislation to establish a federal standard for privacy rights and consumer protections:

“The Business Software Alliance (BSA) welcomes the introduction of the SECURE Data Act, which would extend privacy rights and consumer protections already in place across 20 states to individuals nationwide. BSA has long supported federal privacy legislation. Congress can build on existing state frameworks to strengthen trust, ensure the responsible use of personal data consistent with consumer expectations, and provide greater certainty for businesses.

The introduction of H.R. 8413 should help reinvigorate bipartisan efforts to advance a comprehensive national privacy law. It provides a solid foundation for action by reflecting bedrock elements of workable privacy laws, including provisions that distinguish between and tailor obligations to both controllers and processors of data. Establishing a consistent federal standard would not only align expectations for businesses and consumers, but also lay an important foundation for a coherent national approach to AI policy—where responsible data use is essential to developing effective, trustworthy systems.

BSA commends Chairman Guthrie, Congressman Joyce, and the Data Privacy Working Group for their leadership in advancing legislation that recognizes and builds on proven state models. We look forward to working with leaders on both sides of the aisle to build on this momentum and work toward enacting a durable, bipartisan national privacy law.”