U.S.-U.K. Data Pact Eases Tech Disclosure Rules in Crime Probes

The U.S. and U.K. have agreed to ease rules for tech companies to turn over data to assist in terrorism, child exploitation, and other criminal investigations, privacy attorneys and former U.S. officials said.

The U.S.-U.K. Bilateral Data Access Agreement, announced Oct. 3, would allow law enforcement authorities in both countries to serve tech companies with court orders to produce electronic evidence in criminal probes of their citizens.

The pact is the first under the CLOUD Act, which permits the U.S. to enter deals with foreign governments to lift “legal barriers to the other party’s access to electronic data for certain ...