Four prominent tech companies ran a full-page ad in four media outlets petitioning Congress to restrict the federal government’s mass surveillance of U.S. citizens. The companies’ request included limits to government authority, greater oversight and accountability and increased transparency. (Electronic Frontier Foundation, December 9, 2013, by Kurt Opsahl and Rainjey Reitman)
The companies, , , , , , , Google and Microsoft, have a vested interest in protecting their users’ privacy but have put their users at risk in the first place by collecting so much information. The Internet companies have tried to keep their users informed by issuing transparency reports about government requests, reports not issued by telecoms. (The New York Times, December 9, 2013, by Edward Wyatt and Claire Cain Miller)
In an interview on PBC Newshour with Judy Woodruff, Microsoft’s Brad Smith said about the companies’ motivation, “We see a need for reform. And specifically we’re hoping that there will be clear legal rules. All of this should take place pursuant to the law. There should be stronger executive oversight. There needs to be enhanced review by the courts. And there needs to be a bit more transparency, certainly, so that we can all have the confidence in the public that we live in a safe country, but also one where we know enough about what the government is doing to be confident that people are striking the right balance.”