Google hits back at snooping claims

Google has issued a strong denial that it allows the US government to access its servers. The internet giant said the government has no access, "not directly, or via a back door, or a so-called drop box". The Guardian claims the UK's eavesdropping centre GCHQ has secretly gathered intelligence on Britons from the world's largest internet companies. GCHQ is to report to MPs within days over claims it accessed data through a US spy programme called Prism. Parliament's Inteigence and Security Committee (ISC) expects the report by Monday. GCHQ said in a statement it operated to "a strict legal and policy framework". US spies have been accused of tapping into servers of nine US internet giants including Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Google in a giant anti-terror sweep. All deny giving government agents access to servers. Google's Chief Legal Officer David Drummond said: "We cannot say this more clearly - the government does not have access to Google servers...It is quite wrong to insinuate otherwise. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote What we'd like to know is: has this actually had the authority of ministers and how long has it been going on for? This is not the traditional route of spookology...” End Quote Keith Vaz Home Affairs Select Committee chairman "We provide user data to governments only in accordance with the law. Our legal team reviews each and every request, and frequently pushes back when requests are overly broad or don't follow the correct process." The Guardian said it has obtained documents showing that Britain's secret listening post had access to the Prism system, set up by America's National Security Agency (NSA), since at least June 2010. The newspaper said the Prism programme appeared to allow the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) to circumvent the formal legal process required to obtain personal material, such as emails, photographs and videos, from internet companies based outside the UK. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, in London for a Hyde Park rally calling for action to end hunger, said he knew nothing about Prism, adding: "I don't know any specifics but if there's a court order for companies to do things it's typical that they're obeyed." Washington visit ISC chairman Sir Malcolm Rifkind said the parliamentary committee would be "receiving a full report from GCHQ very shortly and will decide what further action needs to be taken as soon as it receives that information". Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. //

Google hits back at snooping claims 2013-06-08T11:57:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Undercover 999