In a column for The Hill, Twilio General Counsel Karyn Smith points out the economic consequences that are attached to reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act. The law is set to expire Jan. 19, but there are competing reforms in Congress. One such proposal, H.R. 4478, which was passed by a partisan majority in the House Select Committee on Intelligence, "risks reversing progress that has been made" through the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework. The EU's Article 29 Working Party has warned that it would take legal action against the agreement if protections in Section 702 were not addressed. Legal challenges to Shield would leave "thousands of companies grappling with how to prevent loss of profit, productivity, or competitiveness stemming from their ability" to transfer data between the EU and U.S., she points out, adding, "That's why companies such as mine are closely watching the calendar and why we urge Congress to pass a bill that both reauthorizes and reforms Section 702 — now." 
Full Story