As 2025 draws to a close, here is a look back at the many ways the Business Software Alliance (BSA) advanced solutions-oriented tech policy in markets worldwide, highlighted member companies, and elevated digital diplomacy. This is the 2025 BSA Year in Review.
Promoting AI Adoption Worldwide
BSA led a worldwide conversation about the importance of adopting artificial intelligence (AI). Following elections in the US and Europe in 2024, along with several other major markets like India and Japan, BSA moved quickly to urge policymakers to focus on promoting AI adoption. BSA developed comprehensive policy recommendations centered on workforce and talent, data and infrastructure, and AI governance. BSA developed tailored agendas for the US, Japan, India, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states to help realize their AI adoption goals. We then launched those agendas with extensive media outreach and marquee events that convened leading policymakers and member company executives to highlight opportunities in each market.
Recognizing Digital Diplomacy Champions
BSA honored its inaugural cohort of Digital Diplomacy Champions in 2025, which featured leaders from the US, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, and Australia who demonstrated excellence in advancing constructive tech policies and working internationally on digital policy. BSA recognized the honorees at a series of global events throughout the year. Check out the recap below and congratulations again to our honorees.
View From the Top: CEO Perspectives on Tech Policy
BSA engaged CEOs from across our membership to share their unique perspective on how enterprise software — from leading AI solutions to the most rigorous cybersecurity tools — is making a difference in every part of the economy. Nine chief executives (from Alteryx, Asana, Bentley Systems, Cisco, Docusign, EY, PagerDuty, Siemens, and Veeam) shared, in their own words, why AI adoption is essential. We also welcomed CEOs from Cohesity and Veeam to share their thoughts on cyber resilience, in support of our report on cyber preparedness, “Resilience Through Recovery.” Look for more leadership on tech policy from top industry executives in 2026.
BSA’s First Quantum Policy Agenda
As work on policies to further quantum development and commercialization accelerate, especially in the US and the European Union, BSA led the conversation with its first-ever “Quantum Policy Agenda.” The agenda expanded on BSA’s long-standing advocacy on issues like Post-Quantum Cryptography in both the US and EU, where BSA is urging leaders to accelerate policy. This year also marked the start of EU deliberations on a forthcoming Quantum Act, where BSA contributed early industry perspectives to help shape Europe’s approach. BSA additionally briefed Capitol Hill staff on the profound implications of quantum computing and the policies needed to further its development, while also engaging BSA member companies to share their views on quantum developments.
Showcasing Enterprise Software’s Service to Europe
In BSA’s “Tech-à-Tech” series, enterprise software leaders sat down with our Director General of Policy – EMEA, Thomas Boué, highlighting the extensive footprint that BSA members have within Europe. Leaders from Akamai, Amadeus, Atlassian, Cisco, IBM, Kyndryl, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, Salesforce, and Workday shared how they anchor innovation across the continent through hiring, skilling, research hubs, partnerships, and support for Europe’s digital transformation. What emerged was a straightforward narrative: Our members’ success is dependent on Europe’s success.
Leading the Charge Against Misguided AI Legislation in California
BSA led the charge against a problematic proposal before the California legislature that would have swept many everyday uses of AI into an unworkable regulatory regime and created barriers to AI innovation and adoption in California. BSA was a prominent voice opposing Assembly Bill (AB) 1018, launching a substance-based campaign against the legislation for its broad and vague scope, misaligned responsibilities, and untested audits. BSA helped ensure AB 1018 did not advance through an extensive media campaign and direct lobbying in Sacramento, and will renew its work with lawmakers in California in the coming year.
AI Adoption and Digital Diplomacy Feature at TRANSFORM
BSA convened 200 leaders in industry and government for its third annual TRANSFORM policy forum, which sparked a conversation in Washington about the importance of furthering AI adoption and digital diplomacy. Panels featuring members of the US Congress, past and present administration officials, diplomats from major partner economies, and enterprise software executives outlined policy solutions to further AI adoption in the US and around the world.
BSA Pushes Forward on Cybersecurity Preparedness
This year, BSA’s experts focused on illustrating the importance of cyber policies for cyber purposes with the publication of our simplification blueprint and the push to reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015. At the RSA Conference in San Francisco, BSA member company representatives gathered for thoughtful conversation on how cybersecurity management is changing and how to harness the correct metrics to secure US technology leadership. BSA member company CEOs joined BSA’s “Resilience Through Recovery” campaign to discuss how every step of the recovery process — prevention, reaction, and recovery — is an essential part of the security chain. BSA continues to advocate for innovative B2B vendors as they offer security services to governments and businesses.
Driving Practical, Adoption-Focused AI Policy in Europe
As Brussels raced to publish guidance on the General-Purpose AI rules and continued working on high-risk AI systems classification, transparency, and incident reporting, BSA pressed for what businesses needed most: legal clarity, proportionate obligations, and timelines grounded in reality, rather than wishful thinking. We challenged proposals that overreached and made the case for rules that actually help companies adopt AI, not tiptoe around it. In consultations, coalitions, and headlines across Europe, BSA pushed for an AI framework that truly enables innovation.
Championing Openness as Europe’s True Strength
Few words dominated Brussels this year like “sovereignty.” It appeared in every speech, strategy, and panel, sometimes as aspiration, sometimes as warning. Through it all, BSA argued for an open version of sovereignty that strengthens Europe rather than shrinking its horizons. In debates about the upcoming Cybersecurity Act and the Cloud and AI Development Act, we cautioned against turning infrastructure policy into border control. We reminded policymakers that security comes from rigorous standards and trusted partnerships, and that Europe’s competitiveness requires openness, interoperability, and cooperation with like-minded partners.
Shaping Europe’s Digital Debate
BSA brought enterprise software voices directly into conversations shaping Europe’s future — from the Paris AI Summit in February to Berlin’s more recent sovereignty discussions. Editorial board meetings and media briefings with top outlets in Brussels opened new space for nuanced, industry-informed reporting. We engaged with national governments and maintained a steady presence in Europe’s media ecosystem, offering clarity amid confusing headlines. In a year crowded with strategy papers and political noise, BSA always provided clear reminders of what’s at stake.
Advancing Cross-Border Data Flows and Digital Trade
In 2025, BSA pushed for a world where data can move more responsibly and securely, without unnecessary borders. In Europe, we pressed for a clearer, more coherent data landscape through our work on the Data Union Strategy and Digital Omnibus. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework (freshly reviewed and upheld at least for now) remained a vital bridge for transatlantic commerce. BSA welcomed landmark digital trade breakthroughs in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), including new agreements that protect data flows and keep digital markets open between the US and Indonesia, the EU and Indonesia, and the EU and Korea. Across each front, BSA argued for one simple principle: Innovation thrives when data does, too.
Promoting Responsible Tech Policies Across APAC
BSA helped shape the tech policy landscape across the APAC region in 2025. On AI, BSA introduced adoption agendas for Japan, India, and ASEAN member states and hosted BSA CEO Victoria Espinel for visits to Tokyo, Delhi, and Singapore. In India, BSA helped the government to further refine the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection law. In Japan and Korea, BSA helped the governments guide the implementation of initial AI regulation toward a risk-based, adoption-oriented approach. And across the region, BSA championed the role of cross-border data flows for every industry.