Surveillance is a big issue that has been making headlines in recent times. There had been reports that the US government, specifically the NSA constantly gaining access or forcing its way into servers to gain access to people's data stored on Tech giant servers.
In other to address this issue of surveillance, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook along with seven other tech companies wrote a open letter to the US president Barrack Obama and members of Congress urging them to look into reforming the government surveillance tactics being used according to the Wall Street Journal.
The letter, which was endorsed by the tech companies can be found in this website. It is expected to appear today in full-page on different publications such as the New York Times and Washington Post. However, an excerpt of the letter is shown below.
"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 user’s 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 www.ReformGovernmentSurveillance.com
Sincerely,
AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo"
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 user’s 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 www.ReformGovernmentSurveillance.com
Sincerely,
AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo"
The tech companies didn't stop there, they also listed some sort of procedures that they think the government should follow certain procedures in other to obtain users' information from any company.
Furthermore, it was stressed that the limitation of government authority to collect users'
information, oversight and accountability, transparency about demands,
respect for the free flow of information, and the avoidance of conflicts
among governments should be considered.
In recent times, Apple have been accused of aiding the government to get users' information in which the fruit company was apt to deny.
However, in this new stand taken by Apple alongside other tech giants, it would mean that everyone is not in support of the surveillance activities and users data mining by the US government.
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