As maiores empresas do sector das novas tecnologias uniram-se para exigir que o governo Norte Americano termine com as escutas e com a recolha de informação sobre os utilizadores.
Este pedido vem na sequência dos muitos escândalos e das muitas fugas de informação que trouxeram a público todo o modo de operação da NSA e a forma como esta recolhe as informações.
Esta campanha, que envolveu as maiores empresas do sector das tecnologias, baseia-se numa carta aberta enviada ao presidente Norte Americano, Barack Obama, e aos membros do Congresso Norte Americano.
AOL, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Twitter e Yahoo querem que a NSA pare com a recolha de informação e que toda que tiver de ser realmente recolhida seja alvo de legislação pública e de controlo por parte de entidades independentes.
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.
A carta aberta, que pode ser lida na integra no site Reform Government Surveillance, apela à necessidade de criação de regras para essa recolha de dados e também à clarificação dos processos e à liberdade das pessoas.
Nesse mesmo site estão declarações dos principais responsáveis de cada uma dessas empresas e onde são expressas as opiniões dos mesmos sobre o assunto.
Tim Armstrong, Chairman e CEO da AOL
AOL is committed to preserving the privacy of our customers’ information, while respecting the right of governments to request information on specific users for lawful purposes. AOL is proud to unite with other leading Internet companies to advocate on behalf of our consumers.Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Facebook
Reports about government surveillance have shown there is a real need for greater disclosure and new limits on how governments collect information. The US government should take this opportunity to lead this reform effort and make things right.Larry Page, CEO, Google
The security of users’ data is critical, which is why we’ve invested so much in encryption and fight for transparency around government requests for information. This is undermined by the apparent wholesale collection of data, in secret and without independent oversight, by many governments around the world. It’s time for reform and we urge the US government to lead the way.Erika Rottenberg, General Counsel, LinkedIn
These principles embody LinkedIn’s fundamental commitment to transparency and ensuring appropriate government practices that are respectful of our members’ expectations.Brad Smith, General Counsel e Executive Vice President, Legal e Corporate Affairs, Microsoft
People won’t use technology they don’t trust. Governments have put this trust at risk, and governments need to help restore it.Dick Costolo, CEO, Twitter
Twitter is committed to defending and protecting the voice of our users. Unchecked, undisclosed government surveillance inhibits the free flow of information and restricts their voice. The principles we advance today would reform the current system to appropriately balance the needs of security and privacy while safeguarding the essential human right of free expression.Marissa Mayer, CEO, Yahoo
Protecting the privacy of our users is incredibly important to Yahoo. Recent revelations about government surveillance activities have shaken the trust of our users, and it is time for the United States government to act to restore the confidence of citizens around the world. Today we join our colleagues in the tech industry calling on the United States Congress to change surveillance laws in order to ensure transparency and accountability for government actions.Espera-se agora que o governo Norte Americano e todos os outros que fazem esse tipo de recolha de informação respondam a este pedido com a clarificação das regras e com a diminuição dessa mesma informação recolhida.
Pode ser apenas o início de um movimento maior, mas esta primeira tomada de posição vem esclarecer qual a posição de cada uma destas empresas e ao mesmo tempo aumentar a pressão sobre os governos sobre este problema.
