WASHINGTON – July 17, 2020 – BSA | The Software Alliance today led a multi-industry letter with the US Chamber of Commerce responding to yesterday’s Schrems II ruling by the European Court of Justice and urging the US Department of Commerce to work collaboratively with the European Union to develop a stable and sustainable mechanism for companies to transfer data between the European Union and the United States. Other signees include ACT | The App Association, AmCham Czech Republic, AmCham Denmark, AmCham Finland, AmCham Germany, AmCham Lithuania, AmCham Romania, AmCham The Netherlands, American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, American Chamber of Commerce in Italy, American Chamber of Commerce in Sweden, American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU), the American Council of Life Insurers, BritishAmerican Business, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), Business Roundtable, the Coalition of Services Industries (CSI), the Computer & Communications Industry Association, the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the Global Data Alliance, the Internet Association, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, SIIA, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the US Council for International Business.

“This letter sends a strong message that the US business community is united in supporting the Commerce Department’s efforts to negotiate a new agreement with the European Commission. Job creators in every sector of the US economy share the objective of the US Government and European Commission: to ensure data can be transferred between the EU and US in a manner that protects privacy,” said Craig Albright, Vice President, Legislative Strategy at BSA | The Software Alliance. “The free flow of data across borders powers the global economy and supports businesses of all sizes in every sector. Privacy Shield’s invalidation will directly affect more than 5,300 companies, 70% of which are SMEs, but the decision also has negative consequences for tens of thousands of companies that indirectly rely on Privacy Shield. As the global economy struggles to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the free flow of information to power data-driven tools and remote services is more important than ever before. BSA stands ready to work with policymakers in the US and EU to ensure that responsible data transfers can continue to take place.”

The full letter is available here. Find BSA’s statement on the Schrems II case here.