Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) recently joined forces with other tech companies to send an open letter to the United States Senate. The letter is primarily about their concerns on Internet surveillance. Other companies that also signed this letter include Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), and AOL, Inc. (NYSE:AOL).
A closer look at the letter
These companies are teaming up as an effort to push for a much-needed change within the recently passed U.S. Freedom Act. Within the letter, the companies explained that the act does not keep a large collection of metadata from developing. The companies even added that it’s crucial for customers to know the types of user information the government wants. The letter was finalized with steps for the government to take in order to keep privacy intact on the Internet.
The Reform Government Surveillance coalition first formed after Edward Snowden’s revelations about United States surveillance. This includes global reform. It has been operating since last year. Some of the member companies have ties to the Internet collection program formed by the NSA. Both Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) had their websites tapped into. The group also spent a year lobbying for better transparency.
The Reform’s main purpose
On the official Reform Government Surveillance website, the group lists five key principles behind their cause, which include limiting government authority when collecting personal user information, oversight, transparency, government reform, respecting a free Internet, and preventing government conflict. Only time will tell whether RGS has success with its current request.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) knows the value of consumer privacy on the Internet. It is necessary for the Cupertino-based tech giant and other tech companies to advocate on behalf of consumers, particularly if the companies want to remain relevant in this industry. The fact that many tech companies formed a group to work together may give them all the strength they need.
