NEW DELHI – September 11, 2020 – The Global Data Alliance today filed comments on the Report by the Committee of Experts on the Non-Personal Data (NPD) Governance Framework. The Global Data Alliance called on the Committee to remove from the NPD Framework the proposed local storage and processing requirements – constraints that would harm India’s economy and undermine the Framework’s stated objectives.

“The Framework’s recommendations to introduce restrictions on cross-border NPD transfers and to impose local NPD storage requirements will not advance the Framework’s objective of supporting innovation based on data. Instead, these restrictions disrupt companies’ operations, make it costlier to provide services in India, and increase barriers to competition that are key to ensuring that Indian users have cost-effective access to the best products and services,” said Joseph Whitlock, Director, Policy at BSA | The Software Alliance. “The Committee’s proposal to restrict the flow of NPD across borders would also deter foreign investment and decrease opportunities for collaboration through voluntary data sharing.”

The Global Data Alliance appreciates this opportunity to submit comments to the Committee of Experts and urges the Committee to eliminate proposals to restrict cross-border data flows and to institute local storage and processing requirements, which can undercut the stated objectives of the Framework. The Global Data Alliance also urges the Committee to consider industry feedback on other aspects of the Framework during this process.

Read the Global Data Alliance’s full comments here.

About the Global Data Alliance

The Global Data Alliance (globaldataalliance.org) is a cross-industry coalition of companies that are committed to high standards of data responsibility and that rely on the ability to transfer data around the world to innovate and create jobs. The Alliance supports policies that help instill trust in the digital economy while safeguarding the ability to transfer data across borders and refraining from imposing data localization requirements that restrict trade.

Alliance members include BSA members and American Express, Amgen, AT&T, Citi, ITB360, LEGO, Mastercard, Panasonic, Pfizer, Roche, United Airlines, Verizon, Visa, and WD-40 Company. These companies are headquartered across the globe and are active in the advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, electronics, energy, financial services, health, supply chain, and telecommunications sectors, among others. BSA | The Software Alliance administers the Global Data Alliance.