Communications of the ACM
Tech Giants Issue Call For Limits on Government Surveillance of Users
Eight major technology companies are calling on the Obama Administration and the U.S. Congress to limit government surveillance activities.
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Eight major technology companies on Monday are taking their strongest stance ever against programs that collect vast amounts of user data by calling on the Obama administration and Congress to set limits on government surveillance activities.
The companies also are encouraging foreign countries not to react to U.S. spying by walling off the Internet.
They stressed that governments should limit surveillance to specific known users and called for more transparency around what governments request and why. "We are focused on keeping users' data secure, deploying the latest encryption technology to prevent unauthorized surveillance on our networks, and pushing back on government requests to ensure that they are legal and reasonable in scope," the group said in an open letter that appeared in full-page ads in national newspapers.
The companies also say they support laws allowing firms to disclose when a government asks for data and what it seeks. "People won't use technology they don't trust," says Microsoft's Brad Smith. "Governments have put this trust at risk, and governments need to help restore it."
The Obama administration is reviewing the U.S. National Security Agency's surveillance activities and could release a report this week.
From The New York Times
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