The Impact of PRISM on Digital Trade Policy

The recent revelations that the United States (and some other countries) are engaging in widespread clandestine surveillance of digital communications challenges many prior assumptions about the privacy and security of electronic data. These national security efforts will likely have an impact on the ability of the U.S. government and tech sector to fight back against anti-competitive policies, such as server localization, that impede the global free flow of information while potentially legitimizing countries who wish to engage in such practices. This event will explore both the short-term and long-term impacts of PRISM on digital trade issues and discuss how policymakers should respond to protect both U.S. economic interests and digital free trade.