Manufacturers appreciate lawmakers’ inclusion of the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act in the FY 2018 Omnibus funding package.  This is a major victory for the delivery of strong standards and achieving much needed government-to-government cooperation to address new challenges presented by the digital age.

Digital information moves globally in ways that were never imagined decades ago. Current laws were written in 1986 and have not kept up to speed with technological advances and the connected world in which we live. Connected products, services and the technology of today demand a high level of certainty and stability so that the competitive needs of commerce are appropriately balanced with efforts to thwart international criminals and those who seek to harm our society.

The CLOUD Act provides law enforcement the tools they need to keep us safe and creates a legally responsible framework to address concerns of international customers and foreign governments to ensure the privacy and security of customer data. The NAM has been a stalwart advocate along with other industries and has previously praised the CLOUD Act in a letter to lawmakers.

Cloud computing is a major growth opportunity for U.S.-based companies selling software and services overseas and a growing technology backbone for small businesses and manufacturers across the United States who are seeking opportunities to sell into overseas markets. Ninety-five percent of the world’s customers reside outside the United States, and the appetite for American-made products and technology continues to be robust, increasingly helping to support well-paying jobs across the country. The CLOUD Act achieves the right balance, and manufacturers are pleased to see advocacy efforts come to fruition

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