TQ updated readers last week that Google, one of the alleged tech companies that was named in the secret surveillance PRISM program, has sent a letter to the U.S. government in which the company has requested the authorities issue the requests for users’ data from National Security Agency (NSA). Now according to the latest update, the search engine giant has demanded from the secretive Foreign Intelligence Court to “lift a gag order” so it could clear its name from the PRISM scandal after an open discussion on government’s data requests. Google has made this demand by saying that it is their constitutional right.
According to a spokesperson of Google, the multinational corporation has asked from the court to allow it to “publish aggregate numbers of national security requests, including FISA disclosures, separately,” because ”lumping national security requests together with criminal requests – as some companies have been permitted to do – would be a backward step for our users.” In brief, Google is asking the court to allow the company to explain its relation with the government more freely, after whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked the NSA’s PRISM program documents, which claims that Google was one of the tech companies that was offering government agencies direct access to the users’ data.
If the court gives the permission to Google to shed light on its relation with the government then it will unveil the total number of government requests for users’ data. It will also reveal the affected users. According to the Mountain View-based company the First Amendment allows it to reveal the information that it is forced to provide to the government. Below is the full statement from Google, which describes full details regarding the new demand of the company from the secretive court:
“We have long pushed for transparency so users can better understand the extent to which governments request their data–and Google was the first company to release numbers for National Security Letters. However, greater transparency is needed, so today we have petitioned the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to allow us to publish aggregate numbers of national security requests, including FISA disclosures, separately. Lumping national security requests together with criminal requests – as some companies have been permitted to do – would be a backward step for our users.”
Now let’s see whether the court will allow Google to disclose the total number of government requests and list of affected users.
Source: 9to5Google
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