Technology

As business leaders representing every sector of the economy, we know that technology fosters economic growth and opportunity. Data and digital platforms are essential to competitiveness in today’s marketplace. Business Roundtable CEOs are committed to advancing policies that maximize U.S. technology advantages while safeguarding data and technology in a complex global environment.

Technology and Innovation Policy Priorities

The CEOs of the Business Roundtable urge the incoming Administration and Congress to take up and advance the following policies and urgent strategic priorities over the course of 2021.

Review the full policy recommendations or explore by issue:

Bridge the Digital Divide

Protect Consumer Data Privacy

Fortify U.S. Cyber Defenses and Trust in Information and Communications Technology Supply Chains

Strengthen U.S. Global Leadership on Data and Technology Policy

Bolster Federal Research and Development Programs

Support Access to and Retention of Global Talent

Business Roundtable urges the federal government to take five actions to bridge the digital divide so that all Americans can stay connected. America’s leading employers are calling on lawmakers to enact the following:

Establishing an emergency connectivity benefit to support broadband for low-income households as a transition to comprehensive Lifeline reform;
Clarifying and expanding the E-Rate program to support student and teacher connectivity needs;
Funding the purchase of connected devices for e-learning;
Accelerating broadband buildout in unserved areas; and
Supporting access to online healthcare services.

Read the full policy recommendations.

Bridging the Digital Divide During the Pandemic

Enact a National Consumer Privacy Law.

Today, American consumers do not feel in control of their personal data and how it is collected, used, shared – and protected. At the same time, U.S. privacy laws are highly fragmented across industries and jurisdictions, creating a patchwork of regulations, which hurts both consumers and companies.

That is why Business Roundtable members are calling on U.S. policymakers to adopt a national privacy law. The CEOs of America’s leading companies believe that such a law must strengthen protections for consumers and foster U.S. competitiveness and innovation while also addressing fragmentation and achieving some degree of interoperability with international privacy frameworks.

Working with companies from virtually every sector of the U.S. economy, Business Roundtable has developed a framework for legislation that establishes individual data privacy rights and provides clear obligations for how companies handle personal data by establishing a national standard for privacy.

Privacy Articles

Dive deeper into privacy issues.

Business Roundtable Framework for a National Privacy Legislation

This framework is a call to action: The United States should adopt a national privacy law that protects consumers by expanding their current rights and fosters U.S. competitiveness. The time to act is now.

Business Roundtable Letter on Developing the Administration's Approach to Consumer Privacy

Enhancing and sustaining consumer trust is vital for continued innovation and economic competitiveness. To achieve this, all companies must process personal data responsibly and with respect for individual consumers’ privacy.

Cybersecurity Articles

Dive deeper into cybersecurity issues.

Business Roundtable Comments on Updated Cybersecurity Framework

We believe that a flexible, technology-neutral, and risk-based Framework developed through active collaboration with industry is the most effective way to strengthen cybersecurity for all sectors of the U.S. economy.

Business Roundtable Applauds DHS Plans for Improved Public-Private Cybersecurity Information Sharing

Business Roundtable released the following statement regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent commitment to improve public-private cybersecurity information sharing.

Enhance the Nation’s Cybersecurity Posture.

American businesses face an unprecedented level of attacks in cyberspace that continue to grow in severity, number, and sophistication each year. As cyber threats have continued to escalate, the value of the digital products and services that criminals are targeting has also grown. Digital technologies are essential to American life and commerce. The nation’s economic security depends on the ability of U.S. companies to effectively defend their networks, safeguard their data, and provide secure and resilient services. Business Roundtable recognizes that effective cybersecurity protection requires a strong partnership between the public and private sectors who together must prioritize cybersecurity policies and initiatives that enable better defense against cyber threats.

Cybersecurity Goals

Business Roundtable supports policies that:

Enhance cyber threat information sharing between the public and private sector.
Promote the continued development of voluntary, industry-led, risk-based cybersecurity standards.
Combat fraud by building a trusted and resilient digital identity ecosystem.

Business Roundtable Applauds DHS Plans

These improvements will bolster security and resilience against cyber threats by strengthening our public-private partnership.

BRT, CMN, Business Council of Canada Joint Letter

North America’s governments and businesses need to address emerging challenges. One of these is cybersecurity.

Privacy

Business Roundtable has developed a framework for national consumer privacy legislation that strengthens protections for consumers, achieves greater transparency and preserves innovation by establishing a national standard for privacy.

Cybersecurity

Business Roundtable recognizes that effective cybersecurity protection requires a strong partnership between the public and private sectors who together must prioritize cybersecurity policies and initiatives that enable better defense against cyber threats.

Artificial Intelligence

Business Roundtable’s approach to Responsible AI is informed by established beliefs and policy perspectives on the vital role that U.S. corporations play in American society and on the essential characteristics of effective regulation.

Align Digital Policies Domestically and Abroad.

Business Roundtable companies must navigate a growing array of cybersecurity and privacy laws and regulations at the state, federal, and global level. These requirements create a complicated patchwork of requirements across the U.S. and globe, creating compliance burdens that hinder innovation without offering measurable gains in security or consumer privacy.

Business Roundtable supports policies that promote the alignment and harmonization of cybersecurity and privacy regulations and frameworks.

Testimony of Denise E. Zheng before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet

Governments have a responsibility to develop ICT policies that provide for national security, protect public safety, and ensure individual privacy.

Protect Cross-Border Data Flows

Businesses in every country and sector depend upon data flows to operate, deliver products and services, grow, innovate, and prosper. Data flows drive foreign investment, create jobs, and open new doors for companies in all sectors and nations. Unfortunately, many foreign governments are erecting barriers to modern business activities and international trade by passing laws and regulations that restrict data storage, content, access, and use. As this trend continues, these measures are having unintended consequences by decreasing foreign business investments, impeding business and consumer access to innovative products and services, and hindering economic growth.

Business Roundtable seeks to minimize barriers to international trade, including restrictions on cross-border data flows, and encourages the U.S. Government to advance this priority in ongoing trade negotiations in other international jurisdictions.

Business Leaders Welcome EU Adoption of EU-U.S. Privacy Shield

Business Roundtable today applauded the adoption of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield by the European Union.

America’s CEOs Call for Promoting Cross-Border Data Flows to Drive Global Economic Growth

Businesses and manufacturers in every country and sector depend on data flows to operate, innovate and prosper.

Business Roundtable Warns of Trend to Increase Local Data Server Requirements

Business Roundtable expresses concerns about the emerging threat posed by local data server requirements now being implemented in several countries.

International Trend to Increase Local Data Server Requirements Will Harm Economic Growth and Fragment Global Networks

Local data server requirements mandate the use of server infrastructure within the borders of a country, rather than allowing businesses flexibility to determine the most secure, reliable and economically effective locations for servers.

More on Globally Competitive Policy Frameworks

See how Business Roundtable is helping to drive important policy changes.

Business Roundtable Comment Letter to FCC on Broadband Internet Access

Business Roundtable appreciates your consideration of our views. We look forward to continued collaboration with the FCC to maintain a free and open Internet.

Business Groups to Federal Appeals Court: Protect Internet Innovation and 21st Century Commerce

We are asking the court to uphold the principles of openness and freedom to innovate that have made the Internet a driving force in global commerce.

Promote Globally Competitive Policy Frameworks for Technology.

While the United States has always been a world leader in technology, public policies have not kept pace with the rapidly evolving marketplace. Costly and outdated regulatory policies often stand in the way of maximizing the benefits of data and technology and threaten the ability of American companies to grow and proposer over the next decade and beyond.

Business Roundtable supports competitive policy frameworks that foster innovation and accelerate the societal and economic benefits of technology.

Encourage Federal IT Modernization

There are certain actions that only the federal government can take to be a partner to industry in national cyber defense. By modernizing its own IT infrastructure, the federal government ensures that it can carry out important missions that protect our nation’s private sector networks from major cyber-attacks and deliver essential citizen services.

Business Roundtable supports policies that incentivize the federal government to improve federal cyber resiliency through modernization and investment in emerging technologies that raise the level of security in both the public and private sectors.