Google, Facebook, Twitter and five other leading technology companies have sent an open letter to President Barack Obama, asking for major alterations to the government's surveillance system. The request comes after a series of leaks revealing the extent the government has gone to keep tabs on Americans.
"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," the companies said in the letter, the Associated Press reported. "This undermines the freedoms we all cherish. It's time for a change."
Other companies in the group, titled Reform Government Surveillance, include Apple, Yahoo, Microsoft, LinkedIn and AOL. Their key demands, addressed to governments around the world, include government "oversight and accountability," "transparency about government demands," "respecting the free flow of information," and "avoiding conflicts among governments," the group's website said.
Over the summer, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked confidential information about the NSA's surveillance tactics. Snowden revealed the government monitored the online activity of unsuspecting Americans. Government officials claimed their methods led to the thwarting of plans by terrorists.
The group said they sympathize with government efforts to protect Americans. However, it should not come at the expense of someone's privacy. Several CEO's of the technology companies personally expressed their support for NSA surveillance reform.
"People won't use technology they don't trust," Google CEO Larry Page said on the campaign's website. "Governments have put this trust at risk, and governments need to help restore it."
"Reports about government surveillance have shown there is a real need for greater disclosure and new limits on how governments collect information," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on the group's website. "The U.S. government should take this opportunity to lead this reform effort and make things right."
