WASHINGTON — January 25, 2016 — Victoria A. Espinel, President and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance, called today’s release by Sidley Austin LLP of its report, “ESSENTIALLY EQUIVALENT: A comparison of the legal orders for privacy and data protection in the European Union and United States," an encouraging step forward in efforts to conclude a new Safe Harbor agreement.

“Sidley Austin has aptly illustrated how the US and EU legal orders for data protection and privacy in the US and EU are in large measure aligned. This is noteworthy, in that it forms a sound foundation for conclusion of a new Safe Harbor agreement,” noted Espinel. “Such an agreement would be crucial for much-needed free flow of data across borders – an essential component of economic growth and innovation both in Europe and in the US.

“Importantly, the Sidley Austin report highlights broad and effective public and private enforcement in the US with regard to data privacy in the commercial sector, and how applicable legal authorities and practices are at least as focused and protective in the US as those under European laws,” Espinel added.

BSA regards the report’s findings that the fundamental rights of citizens are equally protected on both sides of the Atlantic as significant, and continues its active support of a new Safe Harbor agreement being signed and approved as soon as possible.