WASHINGTON – The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) issued the following statement from Andy Halataei, senior vice president of government affairs, commending the introduction of the bipartisan USA FREEDOM Act introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

“It’s vital for Congress to pass meaningful surveillance reform in order to restore the public's trust in the technology sector and the U.S. government.  Today’s introduction of the USA FREEDOM Act by Sen. Leahy is an important part of moving this process forward.  This bill improves bipartisan legislation already passed by the House of Representatives by effectively putting an end to bulk collection and enabling companies to be more transparent about the orders they receive.

We urge Congress to act in a bipartisan fashion and swiftly pass the USA FREEDOM Act.  Without it, the open and borderless Internet that our innovation economy depends on will be at risk and the tech sector will continue to feel significant economic impacts that directly translate into lost American jobs.”

About ITI.  ITI is the premier advocacy and policy organization for the world’s leading innovation companies. ITI navigates the relationships between policymakers, companies, and non-governmental organizations, providing creative solutions that advance the development and use of technology around the world. Visit itic.org to learn more. Follow us on Twitter @ITI_TechTweets.

Related [Surveillance Reform, Data & Privacy]