U.S., EU Start Formal Talks on Cross-Border E-Evidence Pact

A U.S.-EU deal to help law enforcement exchange data across borders is inching closer, as officials began formal talks on an e-evidence agreement.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, and the Trump administration are in discussions to ease restrictions and enable access to electronic evidence in criminal probes. U.S. Attorney General William Barr and outgoing EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova aim to finish “an agreement as quickly as possible,” the commission said in a Sept. 26 statement.

The discussions come as the U.S. is pushing to make its first deal under the CLOUD Act, which sets standards for international ...