Apple, Google, Facebook and Microsoft unite to challenge surveillance laws

The likes of Apple, Google, AOL, Yahoo, Microsoft, Facebook, and Linkedln are calling for sweeping changes to US surveillance laws.

16:51 09 December 2013

Months after whistleblower Edward Snowden released documents about the (NSA) National Security Agency’s practices, a group of industry-leading tech giants have published an open letter for President Obama asking for radical reforms on surveillance laws in an effort to preserve public’s trust in the internet.

The open letter, which was signed by Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo, Linkedln, Twitter, and AOL, reads: “The balance in many countries has tipped too far in favour 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 change.”

“Governments should limit surveillance to specific, known users for lawful purposes, and should not undertake bulk data collection of internet communications.”

“The ability of data to flow or be accessed across borders is essential to a robust, 21st century, global economy.

“Governments should permit the transfer of data and should not inhibit access by companies or individuals to lawfully available information that is stored outside of the country.

“Governments should not require service providers to locate infrastructure within a country’s borders or operate locally.”