Apple, Google, Facebook demand more NSA transparency

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California tech companies teamed up this week to request that the government allow greater transparency when it comes to data requests.

Apple Inc., Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. are banding with other Silicon Valley technology companies and civil liberties groups in a show of solidarity as they call for greater transparency surrounding the National Security Agency's surveillance programs, All Things Digital reports.

On Thursday, 63 companies, investors, nonprofits and trade organizations will appeal to President Barack Obama and congressional leaders in a letter demanding they allow Internet, phone and Web-based service providers to release details about government requests for information.

They're asking for clearance to report:

• The number of requests for information about users
• The number of users, accounts or devices about which information was requested
• The number of requests seeking communications content, subscriber information and other pertinent information.

The letter also requests that the government issue its own transparency report that would cover the same information.

"Basic information about how the government uses its various law enforcement-related investigative authorities has been published for years without any apparent disruption to criminal investigations," a copy of the letter obtained by All Things Digital reads. "We seek permission for the same information to be made available regarding the government's national security-related authorities. ...Just as the United States has long been an innovator when it comes to the Internet and products and services that rely upon the Internet, so too should it be an innovator when it comes to creating mechanisms to ensure that government is transparent, accountable, and respectful of civil liberties and human rights."

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_46/~3/YG1wXEQfOhg/apple-google-facebook-demand-more.html

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