Apple and Other Tech Companies Call for Government Surveillance Reform

[tomvos]

Too little, too late. If the government thought that they did something legally correct but morally wrong, then they would act quite differently now. But the government decided to go along with coercing companies and people to hand over private data.

The lesson I’ve learned is that even for the most mundane stuff encryption and obfuscation is a must. It’s no longer about to ask for privacy. It’s about to fight for your right to privacy.

 

[osx11]

Is there any proof this letter is legit? No actual signatures?

 

[NightFox]

WHAT others said that?? Or is that just what you want to believe?

No, Have a look at Post #8. There you go.

Apple came out with a formal statement that they had NEVER heard of anything called PRISM & certainly weren't knowingly cooperating with them.

The existence of PRISM became known to everybody at the same time. Do you think that the big companies had the info regarding PRISM leaked to them FIRST & then it trickled down to everybody else?? Your comment makes NO sense. You are suggesting that Apple should've done something bold about an entity....... prior to knowledge of their existence. Lol..... absurd!

Nope, not at all, I'm just saying that the fact that Apple (and others) have been providing information to the government for years, (whether under the umbrella of PRISM or not) doesn't quite sit with the poster's belief I was replying to that Apple were courageously leading the fight against this.

 

[dumastudetto]

The more posts I read from you the more convinced I'm that you're just playing a role and that you're not serious.

What I posted was true. All those other companies joined PRISM long before Apple finally agreed to some limited level of participation. This is a fact.

 

[friendlyfire]

No, Have a look at Post #8. There you go.



Nope, not at all, I'm just saying that the fact that Apple (and others) have been providing information to the government for years, (whether under the umbrella of PRISM or not) doesn't quite sit with the poster's belief I was replying to that Apple were courageously leading the fight against this.

Oh.... you're citing "post #8" as your source. Hahahahahaha...
Umm. Here's a REAL source, kid-
http://www.apple.com/apples-commitment-to-customer-privacy/
As stated on June 16th-
"We first heard of the government’s “Prism” program when news organizations asked us about it on June 6. We do not provide any government agency with direct access to our servers, and any government agency requesting customer content must get a court order."

Wow. Your comment that it's a "fact that Apple (and others) have been providing information to the government for years, (whether under the umbrella of PRISM or not)" loses a LOT of bite when followed by the words "ONLY when they had to by law because the agency had provided them with a court order", doesn't it??

 

[Mums]

This is just cheap PR.

 

[Winni]

I have always hugely respected Apple's approach to privacy, and I'm thrilled to see them leading this charge. This battle needs to be won.

This is not Apple's, Google's or Microsoft's battle. It is YOUR battle. Maybe you guys should vote for some new party the next time you can elect your president -- that means give your voice to neither a democrat nor a republican, but really to some NEW party.

 

[WilliamLondon]

I think this is going in a good direction

Not that I share it, but I really (and honestly) love your attitude. Let's hope you're right and I'm wrong!

 

[ohbrilliance]

Why is he Apple logo missing from the website http://reformgovernmentsurveillance.com ?

Perhaps a corporate policy not to mix the Apple logo with other firms? I noticed this at the bottom of http://www.webplatform.org. There are ten logos at the bottom, only missing Apple which is one of the eleven stewards http://www.webplatform.org/stewards/

 

[NightFox]

Oh.... you're citing "post #8" as your source. Hahahahahaha...

No, I was just being courteous, somebody had already made a point in this thread so I was highlighting that fact rather than make out I was introducing it for the first time. Go back and read my comment with an open mind and you'll see where I'm coming from.

Umm. Here's a REAL source, kid-
http://www.apple.com/apples-commitment-to-customer-privacy/
As stated on June 16th-
"We first heard of the government’s “Prism” program when news organizations asked us about it on June 6. We do not provide any government agency with direct access to our servers, and any government agency requesting customer content must get a court order."

I'd question the impartiality of your source there, "kid".

Wow. Your comment that it's a "fact that Apple (and others) have been providing information to the government for years, (whether under the umbrella of PRISM or not)" loses a LOT of bite when followed by the words "ONLY when they had to by law because the agency had provided them with a court order", doesn't it??

Not really - can't PRISM be used to place a legal obligation on a company to disclose information?

 

[VulchR]

I'm glad the companies are trying to get the federal government to listen to reason. Since I live overseas, I would like to know how how my government protects me from unreasonable search and seizure of my electronic information when the NSA spies on people outwith the US.

We have consistently overreacted to the threat of terrorism since 9/11. If we are not careful, this period in history will be bemoaned for its violation of civil rights as much as the McCarthy era.

 

[osx11]

We do not provide any government agency with direct access to our servers.....

Apple probably provides the government with indirect access to its servers. Statements like these get screened by lawyers and you have to read between the lines.

 

[michaelsviews]

If these companies really wanted to make a statement they'd turn down the requests or publicize a list of whose names and telephone number's the government requested information on.

If the NSA is doing what's being reported than they have no need for judges, because if there denied there going to find a work around.

Make a statement and turn off face book and twitter for a week or so, dam just mite have to do something besides sitting behind a computer or smart phone, tablet and actually meet face to face with supposed "Friends" .

You can't turn off the internet , unless because of power failure. If you could the government would have done it already.

It's nice that they put together this letter but in the end it mean's NOTHING to the politicians and other's

 

[/\/\]

is http://reformgovernmentsurveillance.com/ offline?

ok, it seems that the NSA closed this site

 

[Happybunny]

About time.

 

[Eraserhead]

About time.

+1. It has had prominent coverage here.

 

[throttlemeister]

[...] but I'm also a believer in that if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide.

The thing is, you are wrong. Everybody has something to hide. And the stuff your neighbor or your friends don't need to know, the government certainly doesn't need to know.

But that is not even the real issue with these things.

The thing is, if the government knows everything about you, you can be manipulated. If you know you are being listened too, you will choose your words more carefully or not say certain things. It undermines the rights of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of association. And by that, it directly undermines democracy. These are very, very Bad Things™.

Unfortunately, most people don't realize this and not speak out or otherwise try to do something about it. They will when it is too late, but what are you going to do when it is too late?

First they came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

A good talk on the subject of security and consequences: http://www.ted.com/talks/mikko_hypponen_how_the_nsa_betrayed_the_world_s_trust_time_to_act.html

“When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty.” - Thomas Jefferson.

 

[sovereign]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-ZpHr5l0U0

 

[Tech198]

Good on em ...

If we have nothing to hide, maybe we should let people into out bathrooms while we are showering anytime we like....

Not privacy ??

Its out technology we buy, and our information we give to person "A", we trust them based on their T&C etc.. to "...not share any personal info with anyone"


But yet, they are..... Google is after all...

We are dealing with Barack after all.... He, in itself, has no moral intelligence, so anything could happen.

 

[downpour]

I'm also a believer in that if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide.

I have a cheap one way ticket to North Korea to sell, if you're interested.

You guys really need to rein your government in, they are behaving like deranged cartoon bond villains. Check out their new logo...

 

[carmenodie]

This is pure PR bs. These tech companies are gathering loads of our information and creating user/search profiles. That's why you get pertinent information when you search.
Sorry but if you want the government to be transparent then you have to be transparent.

 

[michaelsviews]

This is pure PR bs. These tech companies are gathering loads of our information and creating user/search profiles. That's why you get pertinent information when you search.
Sorry but if you want the government to be transparent then you have to be transparent.

You hit the nail on the head.

Dog and pony show. if you want to make a statement than refuse the government requests, better yet shutdown the government accounts on your companies server's and see just what type of activity and publicity that gets you.

 

[suzerain]

I want to believe this, but as much as all these companies have burned us with privacy over the years, I am highly doubtful of their sincerity. This seems like a cheap and easy way for these tech companies to get good PR, capitalizing on some public outcry. I'm fairly certain they've already given the NSA their decryption keys, and they will comply with any court order they are given even if not.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Great. These companies just made it onto the government's $hiit list. Glad to see someone taking a stand but I'm also a believer in that if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide.

What's considered wrong in the eyes of government is subject to change.

 

[xmaseve]

Great. These companies just made it onto the government's $hiit list. Glad to see someone taking a stand but I'm also a believer in that if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide.

Quick...get this individuals GPS information from his vehicle. Anytime he's gone over the speed limit, let's issue him a ticket. Or, every time he has failed to come to a COMPLETE STOP at a stop sign, let's give him a ticket too. He claims he has nothing to hide so this shouldn't be a problem if we just double check, right?