Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Apple and other bigwigs team up against NSA

In the wake of recent revelations of widespread spying by the NSA, eight of the biggest Internet companies have joined forces against the NSA. AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, LinkedIN, Microsoft, Twitter and Yahoo! have signed a letter to President Obama and Congress speaking against the surveillance programmes and asking for reforms.

The letter states that it is time for governments across the world to address the practices and laws regulating surveillance of people and access to their information. The letter clearly points out that the current laws and practices need to be reformed. It reads, “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.”

No more snooping (Image Credit: Getty Images)

The companies said that on their part they will try deploying the latest encryption technology to prevent unauthorized surveillance on networks and push back on government requests to ensure that they are legal and reasonable in scope. The letter appears on a website called “ Reform Government Surveillance”, which has listed out a few principles that the governments across the world should put into action. The principles include limiting governments’ authority to collect users’ information, transparency of government demands, among others. 

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

“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. Today we join our colleagues in the tech industry calling on the United States Congress to change surveillance laws in order to ensure transparency and accountability for government actions," said Marissa Mayer, CEO, Yahoo!

“People won’t use technology they don’t trust. Governments have put this trust at risk, and governments need to help restore it," said Brad Smith, General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft.

Larry Page, CEO, Google said, “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.”