Security News > 2022 > October > From today, America and UK follow new rules on how they can demand your data from each other

The Data Access Agreement, by which the US and UK have agreed how one country can respond to lawful data demands from police and investigators in the other, took effect on Monday.

The DAA spells out US and UK obligations under the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act, which the US Congress approved in 2018.

"Under the Data Access Agreement, service providers in one country may respond to qualifying, lawful orders for electronic data issued by the other country, without fear of running afoul of restrictions on cross-border disclosures," the US Justice Department said in a statement.

"The Data Access Agreement fosters more timely and efficient access to electronic data required in fast-moving investigations through the use of orders covered by the Agreement."

The UK Home Office characterizes the DAA similarly and contends that it will help the UK particularly because so much online data is held by companies operating with the US where it hasn't been easily available.

The bulk of overseas production orders - legal demands for data - are expected to be served on US communications service providers by UK authorities because there are comparatively fewer UK companies holding data of interest to US law enforcement.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/10/03/us_uk_data_access_agreement/