14 DAY TRIAL // Eight huge companies have united forces to fight off mass surveillance and their joined statement indicates the fight is just starting.
“For our part, we are focused on keeping users’ data secure — deploying the latest encryption technology to prevent unauthorized surveillance on our networks and by pushing back on government requests to ensure that they are legal and reasonable in scope,” reads an open letter signed by AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Twitter and Yahoo.
AOL’s Chairman and CEO, Tim Armstrong, said in a statement that the company he represented was completely committed to preserving the privacy of customer information, while also respecting the governments’ right to request information on specific users for lawful purposes.
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg mentioned that the reports based on Snowden’s files over the past months had shown that there was a real need for greater disclosure, but also for new limits on how governments could collect information.
“The security of users’ data is critical, which is why we’ve invested so much in encryption and fight for transparency around government requests for information. This is undermined by the apparent wholesale collection of data, in secret and without independent oversight, by many governments around the world. It’s time for reform and we urge the US government to lead the way,” said Larry Page, Google CEO.
LinkedIn’s Erika Rottenberg, general counsel, explained that the company joined the other tech giatns because these principles embodied LinkedIn’s fundamental commitment to transparency.
Microsoft’s Brad Smith, general counsel and executive vice president of legal and corporate affairs, said that people would not use technology they didn’t trust and governments had put this trust at risk and they should be the ones to help restore it.
“Protecting the privacy of our users is incredibly important to Yahoo. Recent revelations about government surveillance activities have shaken the trust of our users, and it is time for the United States government to act to restore the confidence of citizens around the world,” said Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer.
Twitter is also on the list of companies that has signed up to the coalition. “Unchecked, undisclosed government surveillance inhibits the free flow of information and restricts [our users’] voice. The principles we advance today would reform the current systems to appropriately balance the needs of security and privacy while safeguarding the essential human right of free expression,” said Dick Costolo.
All these companies have taken their time to make such a move, although they’ve individually taken steps over the past months to fight off surveillance and to increase transparency. While they may not have joined coalitions such as StopWatching.Us that has fought against the NSA mass surveillance from the start, no one can say they’ve been idle, and this new move shows exactly that.