Latest news with #CLOUDAct
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Zivver Joins Kiteworks to Offer a Broad Range of Sovereign Solutions for Secure Private Data Exchange
AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Zivver, Europe's leading provider of secure communications, best known for its AI-powered email security solutions and headquartered in Amsterdam, today announced it has been acquired by Kiteworks. Kiteworks enables organizations worldwide to effectively manage risk in every send, share, receive, and use of private data via its Private Data Network (PDN), which protects over 100 million end-users and 1,500 enterprises globally. Kiteworks accelerated its growth trajectory, including international markets, with $456 million in growth equity funding from Insight Partners and Sixth Street Growth in August 2024. Through this acquisition, Zivver will expand its private data exchange portfolio with sovereign data solutions deployable on-premises, in private cloud, or public cloud environments. This strengthens Zivver's ability to address the increasing demand among European governments and enterprises for more flexible and sovereign secure data exchange capabilities. At the same time, the acquisition enables Zivver to introduce its solutions to new markets worldwide. Addressing the Growing Need for More Comprehensive, Sovereign Data Exchange Zivver is Europe's leading secure data exchange provider, recognized for advanced data classification, human error prevention, and zero-access encryption in its secure email, file transfer, and eSignatures solutions. Zivver's unique solutions ensure that neither Zivver nor the cloud provider hosting the data can access an organization's sensitive emails, files, and documents. As a result, Zivver is one of the few cloud providers in the world not subject to data access risks under laws like the U.S. CLOUD Act. However, with the growing demand for broader and more sovereign communication solutions, Zivver sought a trusted partner to help meet this need. Strategic Partnership Enables End-to-End Sovereign Data Exchange and Collaboration 'Our objective was to join forces with a global leader that shares our vision for zero-access security and meets Europe's stringent data sovereignty standards,' said Wouter Klinkhamer, CEO of Zivver. 'Kiteworks not only mirrors our philosophy on encryption and zero-trust data exchange but also offers on-premises and private cloud deployment options for monitoring all private data moving within, into, and out of organizations—including with countless third parties. This synergy with Kiteworks enables us to deliver zero-trust data exchange for every send, share, receive, and use of private data—regardless of the channels. This enables us to prevent everything from human-error data leaks in emails to the safeguarding of large file transfers, all under the customer's control.' With a global presence, including a broad European customer base, the Kiteworks platform provides complete transparency and oversight into how, when, and where data is shared, enabling organizations to prevent inadvertent and malicious data breaches. Drawing upon this breadth of market penetration and its comprehensive platform, Kiteworks will accelerate the introduction of Zivver's best-in-class data protection, data classification, human-error prevention, and user-friendly secure email capabilities into fast-growing international markets where zero-trust data exchange is essential. ' Organizations require comprehensive solutions that protect private data shared and sent across all communication channels while maintaining seamless user experiences,' said Amit Toren, Chief Business Officer at Kiteworks. ' By bringing Zivver's innovative secure email technology into our Private Data Network, we're providing the combined customer base with enhanced capabilities to secure their most sensitive communications while meeting stringent compliance requirements. This acquisition reflects our focus on continuous innovation in secure data exchange, including AI-based data protection, coupled with the continued growth in our talented global team. ' Unlocking New Opportunities for European Customers 'The challenges surrounding data sovereignty—especially in Europe—require solutions that don't compromise on user-friendliness while still meeting the highest standards of security and compliance,' adds Rick Goud, Chief Innovation Officer at Zivver. 'The Zivver-Kiteworks combination makes this possible by giving organizations full control over where their data is stored, while ensuring compliance with regional regulations. I'm not aware of any other solution worldwide that offers this level of flexibility in terms of supported use cases, hosting models, and security features. This will create major opportunities for both our existing and future customers who are looking to reduce their dependency on the 'American cloud' in these dynamic times of geopolitical uncertainty.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digital sovereignty and national AI creates opportunities
With the current geopolitical tensions and global powers trying to win the AI race, digital sovereignty and national AI are being driven through strategic national initiatives. Digital sovereignty is already a key concern for various governments as the use of technology becomes pervasive, in various aspects including social services and critical infrastructure. The extent of digital solutions and their importance means a country's control over its infrastructure, data, and systems, without influence from foreign entities is paramount. This is accentuated by the growing geopolitical tensions around the globe and the need to protect against extraterritorial laws that may compromise data sovereignty. Digital sovereignty has been driven in part by data protection regulations. With the rapid development and adoption of AI, it has become even more crucial since sensitive data may need to be processed for training AI models. Alongside data protection, digital sovereignty needs to take into account operational sovereignty, which means maintaining visibility and control over operations using trusted personnel and entities. Technical sovereignty is another consideration, which ensures the ability to run applications without being overly dependent on foreign suppliers. Open-source applications play a crucial role in achieving this objective. The increased emphasis on digital sovereignty has created opportunities for home-grown IT services providers and telecom operators that already have strong relationships with the public sector and major enterprises in the markets they serve. For example, Capgemini and Orange launched Bleu, a company they have jointly created to offer Microsoft-based cloud services that meet standards set by French authorities for data protection and sovereignty requirements. This helps Bleu to target critical infrastructure operators, public institutions, and enterprises in regulated industries across France. It also mitigates against US extraterritorial law (CLOUD Act). Besides France, sovereign cloud solutions have also been introduced by European countries, for example, by T-Systems in Germany and Proximus in Belgium. The trend is now quickly shifting to sovereign AI solutions. For example, Capgemini has worked with Telenor to develop Norway's first sovereign AI cloud service in collaboration with Nvidia. Telenor's AI factory was launched in late 2024 to help enterprises adopt AI, which ensuring security, sustainability (it runs on 100% renewable energy), and data sovereignty within Norway. Atos has also won deals to develop sovereign AI capabilities. Most recently, its Eviden business unit won a EUR50 million contract with Serbia's Office for IT and eGovernment to deploy a national AI factory, comprising an AI center of excellence and an AI-dedicated supercomputer platform. Eviden is deploying its BullSequana XH3000 supercomputer, which is designed and manufactured in France, which helps to alleviate hardware supply chain concerns. The recent announcement by the EU to set up AI gigafactories will be another catalyst. This is not just happening in Europe. Sovereign cloud and AI solutions are also being deployed in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. National AI programs have been driven by government initiatives but often undertaken by domestic telecom operators and other local companies. For example, in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has been developing the country's sovereign AI cloud and building an ecosystem, which includes key players such as stc and Aramco Digital. In Thailand, underpinned by the government's National AI Strategy (2022-2027), local players such as True, Cloud, and Gulf Edge have also been actively building AI capabilities in the country by working with various global technology partners. While the local IT service providers and telcos are well-positioned to develop the AI infrastructure, they often do not have extensive AI expertise to help enterprises develop solutions and human capital. Major global systems integrators have been developing their AI practice, which can help their telco customers/partners in various markets bridge the gap. This can also include building the right technology partner ecosystem, strengthening security posture, and developing AI expertise. "Digital sovereignty and national AI creates opportunities" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two US lawmakers urge White House to end UK data treaty after Apple backdoor order
By Stephen Nellis SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Two U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday sent a letter to President Donald Trump's administration urging an end to a data agreement with the U.K. and to renegotiate a new one in the wake of reports that the U.K. ordered Apple to build a backdoor to access encrypted user data. Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, and Arizona Republican Andy Biggs, who chairs a subcommittee on surveillance, asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to end the U.S.-U.K. agreement made under the CLOUD Act. That agreement, which has been in place since 2019 and was renewed last year, allows the U.K. government to ask U.S. companies such as Apple to hand over data during criminal investigations - but not if the targets are U.S. citizens. The two members of the U.S. House of Representatives urged Bondi to "renegotiate it to adequately protect American citizens from foreign government surveillance," according to the letter, which was seen by Reuters. The Washington Post in February reported that the British government ordered Apple to build a system that would give it powers to view end-to-end encrypted data uploaded by Apple users anywhere in the world - an unprecedented demand that the U.K. said is aimed at crime prevention and the pursuit of criminals. Apple withdrew its Advanced Data Protection feature for U.K. users later that month and is appealing the order. The U.K. order sparked concern among U.S. officials that it could violate the CLOUD Act agreement between the countries by allowing the U.K. to obtain the data of U.S. citizens. CLOUD stands for "clarifying lawful overseas use of data." "We are ... concerned that the order exposes all Apple users, including American citizens, to unnecessary surveillance and could enable foreign adversaries and nefarious actors to infiltrate such a backdoor," the U.S. lawmakers wrote.
Reuters
08-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Two US lawmakers urge White House to end UK data treaty after Apple backdoor order
SAN FRANCISCO, April 8 (Reuters) - Two U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday sent a letter to President Donald Trump's administration urging an end to a data agreement with the U.K. and to renegotiate a new one in the wake of reports that the U.K. ordered Apple to build a backdoor to access encrypted user data. Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, and Arizona Republican Andy Biggs, who chairs a subcommittee on surveillance, asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to end the U.S.-U.K. agreement made under the CLOUD Act. That agreement, which has been in place since 2019 and was renewed last year, allows the U.K. government to ask U.S. companies such as Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab to hand over data during criminal investigations - but not if the targets are U.S. citizens. The two members of the U.S. House of Representatives urged Bondi to "renegotiate it to adequately protect American citizens from foreign government surveillance," according to the letter, which was seen by Reuters. The Washington Post in February reported that the British government ordered Apple to build a system that would give it powers to view end-to-end encrypted data uploaded by Apple users anywhere in the world - an unprecedented demand that the U.K. said is aimed at crime prevention and the pursuit of criminals. Apple withdrew its Advanced Data Protection feature for U.K. users later that month and is appealing the order. The U.K. order sparked concern among U.S. officials that it could violate the CLOUD Act agreement between the countries by allowing the U.K. to obtain the data of U.S. citizens. CLOUD stands for "clarifying lawful overseas use of data." "We are ... concerned that the order exposes all Apple users, including American citizens, to unnecessary surveillance and could enable foreign adversaries and nefarious actors to infiltrate such a backdoor," the U.S. lawmakers wrote.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rand Paul Seeks Information on U.K. Requests for Americans' Private Data
Last month, the United Kingdom Home Secretary reportedly demanded access to user data of any Apple customer on the planet. Apple chose to degrade U.K. users' data protection instead of complying with the order. In a letter to the U.S. attorney general this week, Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.) expressed concern about the order and requested information on any other recent orders. "Recent reports suggest that authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) have issued an order to a U.S. company requiring access to all end-to-end encrypted materials of UK users," wrote Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi. "This action raises significant questions about the integrity of U.S. user data in the context of the Cloud Act and UK statutes." The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act, passed in 2018 as part of a 2,000-plus page omnibus spending bill, requires tech companies to provide information about customers to the government when asked, even if that information is stored outside the United States. The Department of Justice later entered into a data sharing agreement with the U.K. under the CLOUD Act. When the bill came up for a vote, Paul tweeted an article in which American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) legislative counsel Neema Singh Guliani wrote that "Congress should reject the CLOUD Act because it fails to protect human rights or Americans' privacy…gives up their constitutional role, and gives far too much power to the attorney general, the secretary of state, the president and foreign governments." In his letter to Bondi, Paul relayed that the U.K.'s demand was "the latest concerning attempt by law enforcement entities to obtaining 'backdoor' access to private user context under the pretext of national security." To that end, he asked for unredacted copies of any requests from the U.K. government for information about U.S.-based companies—known as a "technical capability notice"—received since August 2024. Paul also asked for "records related to any confidentiality agreements or nondisclosure requirements applicable to a U.S. company as it relates to actions authorized pursuant to the US–UK Cloud Act Agreement." Under the U.K.'s Investigatory Powers Act—nicknamed the Snooper's Charter—Britain can request information about a company's users and forbid the company from disclosing the order's existence. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal hears complaints about U.K. government surveillance; in a letter last week, five U.S. lawmakers, led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D–Ore.), asked the tribunal to "remove the cloak of secrecy related to notices given to American technology companies by the United Kingdom." In fact, the U.K.'s actions are already chilling American speech. "Apple has informed Congress that had it received a technical capabilities notice, it would be barred by U.K. law from telling Congress whether or not it received such a notice from the U.K., as the press has reported," the letter noted. "Google also recently told Senator Wyden's office that, if it had received a technical capabilities notice, it would be prohibited from disclosing that fact." The post Rand Paul Seeks Information on U.K. Requests for Americans' Private Data appeared first on
