DelBene, Marino Introduce Law Enforcement Access to Data Stored Abroad Act
Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., and Tom Marino, R-Pa., introduced the Law Enforcement Access to Data Stored Abroad (Leads) Act Friday, a joint news release said. The bill is the House companion to a Senate bill introduced Feb. 12 by Sens.…
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Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Chris Coons, D-Del. The Leads Act would protect U.S. data stored abroad by "reforming the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) to promote international comity and law enforcement cooperation,” a Hatch news release said earlier this month. “If we cannot accomplish the act of passing this reasonable legislation, U.S. companies will find it increasingly difficult to compete overseas and online user privacy will diminish,” Marino said in his release. “U.S. companies need clear guidelines on when they have to turn over electronic communications to law enforcement if that information is stored abroad,” DelBene said. “The current uncertainty harms U.S. businesses and their customers, and does not well-serve our foreign relationships.” Leads Act supporters include Apple, AT&T, Microsoft, the Telecommunications Industry Association and Verizon, the House release said. “Data localization is being pursued by countries around the globe in the absence of congressional action to establish a rule of law,” Microsoft said in blog post Friday. Microsoft said it anticipates working with House Judiciary Committee members to ensure the bill’s passage.