WASHINGTON – October 7, 2022 – BSA | The Software Alliance welcomes the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Enhancing Safeguards for United States Signals Intelligence Activities, which implements commitments in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework announced earlier this year by Presidents Joseph Biden and Ursula von der Leyen.

“Today’s executive order brings us one step closer to implementing the new EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which will strengthen international data protection and support the digital transformation of thousands of American and European businesses,” said Victoria Espinel, President and CEO of BSA. “Businesses of all sizes and in all industry sectors must move data securely across the Atlantic with strong privacy protections on both sides. This EO is a critical element in improving legal certainty for transatlantic data transfers.”

BSA encourages the European Union and United States to swiftly implement the new Framework, which will ensure that data flowing from the European Union to the United States is subject to strengthened privacy standards, following the Schrems II decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union. The Executive Order implements commitments and safeguards by the United States in connection with the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and will be a key component of the European Commission’s upcoming adequacy determination.

“Stable, trusted mechanisms that support the responsible transfer of data between countries are crucial for business, customers, and consumer privacy,” Espinel said. “International data transfers underpin the global economy – and transatlantic data flows are among the most important for both Europe and the United States. The value of transferring data is realized across industries, and we believe the new EU-US Data Privacy Framework can enable expanded transatlantic commerce, strengthen data protection, and provide a reliable legal framework for the transfer of data internationally. We at BSA look forward to continuing working with stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure that reliable and responsible data movement remains a top priority.”

Read BSA’s multi-industry letter supporting the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework here.