Meeting request

Dear Minister Riisalo,

I am reaching out on behalf of Western Digital, one of three global manufacturers of HDDs, to request an online meeting.

Western Digital designs and manufactures a wide range of data storage products, including hard-disk drives (HDDs), flash-based products, and storage systems. These products are integral for data centres, personal electronics, and cloud infrastructure, among other uses. Many of our use applications play an essential role in storing sensitive data for governments, healthcare facilities, educational programs, and financial institutions. HDDs for example are likely fundamental to Estonia’s Digital Agenda 2030.

As you may be aware, the EU is proposing a universal ban on PFAS. Although there are only minimal amounts of PFAS used in HDDs, there are no viable alternatives to certain critical uses. If a universal ban were to be adopted, the storage capacity and lifetime of HDDs would significantly drop, potentially impacting Estonia’s digital infrastructure and ultimately its digital economy.

Cynthia Tregillis, Chief Legal Officer of Western Digital, would appreciate the opportunity to introduce Western Digital and to discuss the potential implications of the pending PFAS ban on Estonia’s digital objectives. Could you please let us know your availability for an online meeting in June, preferably in the late afternoon, to accommodate the 10-hour time difference between Tallinn and California (GMT-7)?

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Justine Renard