Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national, bipartisan
network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, welcomes the
introduction of the International Communications Privacy Act (ICPA), a bill
sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Chris Coons (D-DE) that would
clarify U.S. law enforcement agencies’ ability to obtain electronic
communications around the world.

“Transformative
innovations have allowed U.S. tech companies to grow abroad and sell to more
customers in the global marketplace, but our online privacy laws have failed to
keep up with modern electronic communications in the digital age,” said TechNet President and CEO Linda
Moore. “Congress should pass the
International Communications Privacy Act to provide law enforcement, U.S.
companies, and consumers with much needed clarity about the appropriate way to
access data held abroad, while setting standards for foreign governments
seeking access to information held by U.S. technology companies.

“Passing both ICPA and
the Electronic Communications Privacy Act into law are critical steps we need to safeguard our citizens’ privacy
rights, ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to protect us, and boost
confidence in the technologies that are improving the ways we communicate with
each other,” Moore added.

TechNet is part of a
broad coalition of civil society organizations, companies, and trade
associations supporting the International
Communications Privacy Act (ICPA), as well as reform of the Electronic
Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). As part of these efforts, TechNet has signed an industry coalition letter in support of ICPA.

Earlier
this year, TechNet Executive Council member Brad Smith, who serves as president and chief legal
officer at Microsoft, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding
law enforcement access to data stored across borders.

About TechNet

TechNet
is the national, bipartisan network of technology CEOs and senior executives
that promotes the growth of the innovation economy by advocating a targeted
policy agenda at the federal and 50-state level. TechNet’s diverse membership includes dynamic
startups and the most iconic companies on the planet and represents more
than 2.5 million employees in the fields of information technology,
e-commerce, the sharing and gig economies, advanced energy, biotechnology,
venture capital, and finance. TechNet has offices in
Washington, D.C., Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Sacramento, Austin, Boston,
Seattle, Albany, and Tallahassee.