Five technology trade organizations have asked the U.S. Senate to support the bipartisan USA Freedom Act (S. 2685) introduced in July.
“The revelations about the U.S. government’s surveillance programs that began in June of 2013 have led to an erosion of public trust in the U.S. government and the U.S. technology sector,” they write in a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. “In an effort to begin restoring that trust, the USA Freedom Act will prevent the bulk collection of Internet metadata, call detail records, and other tangible things in a manner that both enhances privacy and protects national security.”
They note in particular that “…U.S. technology companies have experienced negative economic implications in overseas markets” and that “other countries are considering proposals that would limit data flows between countries, which would have a negative impact on the efficiencies upon which the borderless Internet relies.”
The organizations include BSA | The Software Alliance (founded as the Business Software Alliance), the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), Reform Government Surveillance, and Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA).