Internet firms urge more transparency over UK requests for user data.

Source: Guardian

Britain needs to have a full public debate about the scale of internet surveillance to give confidence that state powers are not being abused, the world's five biggest internet companies have told MPs.

In a joint memo, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo! and Twitter have called for the UK government to allow greater transparency about requests for them to hand over data on their users.

Their evidence to the home affairs select committee comes after the Guardian's revelations about the scale of mass surveillance by the security services in the US and UK based on leaked documents from the whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The files reveal that GCHQ has been tapping subsea fibre-optic cables to get access to vast quantities of internet traffic under its Tempora programme. They also disclose that the US National Security Agency has been collecting data directly from the servers of some internet companies, including search history, the content of emails, file transfers and live chats, although the firms deny this is done with their knowledge.

In their memo to MPs, the internet companies do not specifically mention the Snowden leaks but refer to growing public concern about surveillance issues.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/18/internet-firms-uk-transparency-surveillance-facebook-google-twitter