WASHINGTON – March 2, 2021 – BSA | The Software Alliance applauds today’s confirmation of Gina Raimondo as Secretary of the US Commerce Department. During her confirmation hearing, Raimondo emphasized the importance of negotiating a successor to the EU-US Privacy Shield, saying, “If confirmed, it would be a top priority of mine to finish the negotiations swiftly and ensure that there’s a successor agreement that protects the interests of American businesses and provides for that transfer of data.”

“Today the Global Data Alliance is releasing Cross-Border Data Policy Principles to offer a helpful outline for how countries can build data transfer agreements that strengthen digital trust. I urge the negotiators at the Department of Commerce and European Commission to work quickly to craft a stable and sustainable data transfer mechanism based on these principles,” said Victoria Espinel, President and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance. “Thousands of small and medium American companies depended on Privacy Shield to conduct business and responsibly transfer data around the world. We’re pleased that negotiating an enhanced Privacy Shield agreement will be a priority for the Department of Commerce, and I look forward to collaborating with Secretary Raimondo on this issue in the coming months.”

To read the Global Data Alliance’s Cross-Border Data Policy Principles, click here. Find more information about BSA’s policy recommendations on cross-border data flows here.