CDT Statement: Internet Companies’ Bold Call for Surveillance Reform a Game Changer

Today, leading Internet companies called for major reform of global government surveillance programs. The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) fully supports the companies’ call for reform and issued the following statement:

“Today’s bold call by the country’s leading Internet companies for global government surveillance reform is a game changer. The company reform principles go far beyond earlier calls for greater transparency and embrace reforms that would provide important protections for all Internet users, regardless of their citizenship or location,” said Leslie Harris, CDT President & CEO.

“The principles’ flat rejection of massive bulk collection of Internet data globally and clear demand for transparent judicial authorization for surveillance programs go to the heart of unchecked government surveillance,” she continued.

“By unambiguously standing with their users and putting their might and influence on the line, the stage is now set for a powerful alliance between the Internet industry and global civil society advocates. It allows us to rally around a common surveillance reform agenda that can begin to rebalance the scales with respect to security and privacy. That agenda should start with support for the leading surveillance reform legislation, the USA FREEDOM Act,” Harris added.