US, tech firms agree on spy agency data disclosure

The National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters at Fort Meade, Maryland. The United States agreed to give technology firms the ability to publish broad details of how their customer data has been targeted by US spy agencies, officials said yesterday. PHOTO/FILE  AFP

In Summary

• President Barack Obama’s administration has faced pressure from the tech sector following leaked data outlining vast surveillance of online and phone communications.

By AFP
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WASHINGTON,

The United States agreed to give technology firms the ability to publish broad details of how their customer data has been targeted by US spy agencies, officials said yesterday.

Facing a legal challenge and a furious public debate, Attorney General Eric Holder and director of National Intelligence James Clapper said the companies would now be allowed to disclose figures on consumer accounts requested.

“The administration is acting to allow more detailed disclosures about the number of national security orders and requests issued to communications providers,” the officials said in a joint statement.

In a letter to tech giants Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft and Yahoo, the Justice Department allowed them to release the approximate number of customer accounts targeted.

President Barack Obama’s administration has faced pressure from the tech sector following leaked data outlining vast surveillance of online and phone communications.

The companies have said the reports have already begun to affect their business.