The undersigned companies believe that it is time for the world’s governments to address the practices and laws regulating government surveillance of individuals and access to their information.
While the undersigned companies understand that governments need to take action to protect their citizens’ safety and security, we strongly believe that current laws and practices need to be reformed.
Consistent with established global norms of free expression and privacy and with the goals of ensuring that government law enforcement and intelligence efforts are rule-bound, narrowly tailored, transparent, and subject to oversight, we hereby call on governments to endorse the following principles and enact reforms that would put these principles into action.
And signed by: Microsoft, Google, Apple, Facebook, LinkedIn, Yahoo, AOL and Twitter
Nice to see them finally bucking up and doing the right thing.
If they had any spine the next time they got an order to search their data or hand over access they would tell the govt to go screw themselves. But above any kind of moral reason, they have to know that if people think that they are being e-violated in holes they didn’t even know they had, people will just turn off the devices. That will hit these guys in the pocketbook and that is why they are making noise.
While I commend them on takin a stance, I think that we should be aware that they aren’t doing this cause it’s the right thing. They are doing it cause they got caught colluding with the government and they are now afraid that they will be the ones paying the price as consumers have little recourse against government.
They didn’t say squat until everyone got exposed. And don’t tell me you believe that they didn’t know what was going on.
The reality is it should have never happened or encroached to begin with. We all know that is the truth. To rationalize or justify anything else is just not being intellectually honest.
Finally? FWIW Google has dumped a LOT of money into fighting the government on surrendering users account info w/o warrant. Apple on the other hand… not so much. Just another reason I use Android devices and NOT Apple devices.
also this is kinda like obama saying OK we need a investigation to get to the bottom of this F&F and Benghazi thing I got holder on it ! don’t worry !!
Because your spidey senses are correct. It’s CYA. Not one single company on that list or off it gives a rats ass about your privacy. They will steal you information and share it with anyone that will make them a buck. It’s that simple. They have and will give it to the government or any third party dealer that pays them enough. And if you think the opt out button is real you’re kidding yourself.
I would MUCH rather have someone trying to sell me boner pills because they found out I’m an American Male than the government having access to ALL of my personal information and dealings. It’s a pretty big difference so let’s keep those two things separate as it pertains to this discussion.
They aren’t doing the right thing. They’re responding to losing their ass financially after getting caught bending over for the .gov for YEARS. Especially Google. **** Google.
Iirc didn’t Google willingly put the Backdoor access in their software voluntarily since the fed asked them to? Makes it easy to openly deny on behalf of the gov that they did in not hack anything to gain access. They just unlocked the side door and walked right in.
Nope what? I’m certain there were a few instances that was the case otherwise google would not have received the regulatory approval they were seeking if they didn’t play ball. Ill see if I can dig up the link(s).