Apple, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! are among companies urging the U.S. Senate to pass legislation that would curb the government’s ability to collect massive amounts of metadata.
In an open letter to the Senate, the companies asked that the USA Freedom Act be passed in order to prevent the bulk collection of Internet metadata under various government authorities.
“The bill also allows for transparency about government demands for user information from technology companies, and assures that the appropriate oversight and accountability mechanisms are in place,” the letter states.
The Reform Government Surveillance coalition was started last year in the interest of strengthening security and increasing transparency. The group see passage of the law as a way for the Senate to send a “strong message of change to the world and encourage other countries to adopt similar protections.”
While the group admits the Freedom Act doesn’t go far enough, it argues that it’s a start to reforms that would include such measures as preventing government access to data without proper legal process, and promoting the free flow of data across borders.
Filed Under: Industry regulations + certifications