Brussels/Washington DC — EU and U.S. officials have reportedly reached an agreement on transatlantic data transfers. Today’s signing of the so-called “umbrella agreement” comes after four years of negotiations on how Europe and the U.S. can share data for law enforcement purposes. But it will not take effect until approved by the European Parliament, which…
Washington — The Computer & Communications Industry Association joined civil rights and free speech advocates in a letter expressing concern that broad language in a provision in the Senate version of the Intelligence Authorization Act of 2015. The provision would require online communications services to report potential terrorist activity, and could subject many innocent people…
Brussels — U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker met in Brussels Thursday with Vera Jourova, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality to revitalise negotiations on a framework for commercial data transfers. More than 3,000 European and U.S. companies use the 15 year old Safe Harbour framework for commercial data transfers. Safe Harbour certification is…
Washington — In the next couple of weeks, the House Judiciary Committee will likely markup the Email Privacy Act, the leading bill aimed at reforming the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). ECPA governs the circumstances under which online service providers may disclose the contents of communications or customer records to the government. CCIA strongly supports…
Washington — In a letter to Senate leaders Thursday, representatives of U.S. industry asked Senate leadership to support the Judicial Redress Act, S. 1600, which was introduced last week by Senators Hatch and Murphy. Microsoft and Google, along with the Computer & Communications Industry Association, BSA | The Software Alliance, and the Information Technology Industry…
On Wednesday, President Obama signed the USA Freedom Act, a legislative package of long-awaited mass surveillance reforms that passed the House and Senate after years of false starts and negotiations. The USA Freedom Act contains provisions that permanently end the bulk collection of call records and electronic metadata by the NSA and will provide greater…
President Obama quickly signed surveillance reform legislation after the Senate passed the USA Freedom Act Tuesday evening. The Act ends the bulk collection of phone and other records and offers better transparency and oversight for existing surveillance programs. What will this mean for surveillance reform in the U.S. – and what will it mean for…
Washington — After years of controversy over mass surveillance by the U.S. government, and lengthy negotiations on the reform of those practices, the Senate has passed the USA FREEDOM Act with a 67 to 32 vote. This legislation permanently ends the bulk collection of phone records by the NSA and will provide greater transparency and…