Apple, Google, Facebook, and Other Companies Launch a Campaign to Reform Government Surveillance

A group of tech companies — AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Twitter, and Yahoo — has written an open letter to President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress calling for a reform of government surveillance following numerous revelations about the NSA’s data collection practices. The coalition presents five core principles to inform future surveillance reform: limiting governments’ authority to collect users’ information, oversight and accountability, transparency about government demands, respecting the free flow of information, and avoiding conflicts among governments.

Dear Mr. President and Members of Congress,

We understand that governments have a duty to protect their citizens. But this summer’s revelations highlighted the urgent need to reform government surveillance practices worldwide. The balance in many countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual — rights that are enshrined in our Constitution. This undermines the freedoms we all cherish. It’s time for a change.

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.

We urge the US to take the lead and make reforms that ensure that government surveillance efforts are clearly restricted by law, proportionate to the risks, transparent and subject to independent oversight. To see the full set of principles we support, visit ReformGovernmentSurveillance.com

Sincerely,

AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo

image via Frederic Jacobs