Tech Firms Disclose Certain Data

Silicon Valley companies are seeking to further distance themselves from government surveillance, though they don't agree on the best approach.

Facebook, Microsoft and Apple each disclosed figures on data requests from U.S. government and law enforcement entities—though in a form that shed little light on how many of the information transfers were associated with intelligence agencies. Google, however, questioned the value of such disclosures without being permitted by the government to offer more details on classified requests. Google called the disclosures by its rivals a step back for users. "Our request to the government is clear: to be able to publish aggregate numbers of national security requests, including FISA disclosures, separately," a spokesman said in a statement, referring to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.


Tech Firms Disclose Certain Data Apple reveals US government data requests (FT – Apple) Facebook and Microsoft reveal US data requests (FT – Facebook, Microsoft) Facebook, Microsoft allowed to reveal more about government data requests (CSM - Facebook, Microsoft) Apple Joins Facebook, Microsoft in Outlining Data Requests (Bloomberg – Apple)