Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg says His Company Has Nothing to Do With PRISM

By: Jeff Stewart  |   June 8th, 2013   |   Apple, Google, News, Social Media

After The Guardian and Washington Post reported that major tech companies like Apple, Google, Facebook and others have participated in a secret surveillance program of the US government called PRISM to give agencies direct access to their servers so they could monitor users’ data without their knowledge. Both the government and the companies had to face severe criticism from the general public. As a result of this, top executives of the companies which were highlighted in the reports started issuing clarification statements in response to claims. A majority of them said that they had not participated in such a secret surveillance program. Similarly the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg has also issued a statement in which he has claimed that his company has nothing to do with PRISM.

 

Zuckerberg’s statement was like a replica of Google’s response to these reports, which was jointly issued by its CEO Larry Page and Chief Legal Officer David Drummond. Both the statement said that the two companies have not provided “direct” access to their servers to any of the government agencies. Like Page, Zuckerberg has also never heard of PRISM before the Washington Post and The Guardian’s reports surfaced. Here is the original statement that Zuckerberg has posted:

 

“Facebook is not and has never been part of any program to give the US or any other government direct access to our servers. We have never received a blanket request or court order from any government agency asking for information or metadata in bulk, like the one Verizon reportedly received. And if we did, we would fight it aggressively. We hadn’t even heard of PRISM before yesterday.

 

When governments ask Facebook for data, we review each request carefully to make sure they always follow the correct processes and all applicable laws, and then only provide the information if is required by law. We will continue fighting aggressively to keep your information safe and secure.

 

We strongly encourage all governments to be much more transparent about all programs aimed at keeping the public safe. It’s the only way to protect everyone’s civil liberties and create the safe and free society we all want over the long term.”

 

Nevertheless, just like Google’s response Facebook’s statement also did not address questions like whether the company has given indirect access to agencies or any type of monitoring capabilities. Let’s hope that Facebook will also address these questions the way it has issued the statement in response to the alleged reports.

 

Source: TNW

Photo: CNET