14 DAY TRIAL // Google, Facebook, and Yahoo are once again asking the US government, publicly, to allow them to publish more detailed information on the type of user data requests they receive.
Each company has filed a separate motion with the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) asking for this right and asking that the debate over this be made public.
"[We requested] that Google be allowed to publish detailed statistics about the types (if any) of national security requests we receive under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, including Section 702," Google's Richard Salgado, Director, Law Enforcement & Information Security and Pablo Chavez, Director, Public Policy and Government Affairs wrote.
"Given the important public policy issues at stake, we have also asked the court to hold its hearing in open rather than behind closed doors. It’s time for more transparency," they added.
This comes after the US government has denied the initial requests filed a couple of months ago. The government has made some small concessions and allowed Internet companies to disclose the number of requests they got from law enforcement agencies, including secret requests, as a broad range.
But this was actually less detailed than what Google was already providing in its transparency report. So Internet companies are asking for more and are working as a group to put pressure on the government.
"The actions and statements of the U.S. government have not adequately addressed the concerns of people around the world about whether their information is safe and secure with Internet companies," Colin Stretch, Facebook General Counsel, said.
"We believe there is more information that the public deserves to know, and that would help foster an informed debate about whether government security programs adequately balance privacy interests when attempting to keep the public safe," he added.
Yahoo mirrored the sentiment in its own announcement of a similar petition. Microsoft vowed last week to continue the fight for better transparency.
"We believe that the U.S. Government’s important responsibility to protect public safety can be carried out without precluding Internet companies from sharing the number of national security requests they may receive. Ultimately, withholding such information breeds mistrust and suspicion—both of the United States and of companies that must comply with government legal directives," Ron Bell, Yahoo General Counsel, noted.