When we found out the National Security Advisory was checking in on our smartphones and computers, without search warrants, our knowledge or our approval, many believed the NSA and computer and phone companies were in cahoots with each other. As we later learned, that wasn’t often the case. Now, another tech giant is taking on the issue.
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg tackled the issue at a Tech Crunch conference. He insists he didn’t give the government access to servers. He claimed the NSA “…blew it on communicating the balance of what they were going for with this.” Facebook and Yahoo are filing a suit asking FISA’s blessing to publish more data on the government’s request for people’s information. But it doesn’t stop there. Next week, Zuckerberg goes to Washington and meet with Congress. Right to privacy issues and NSA privacy leaks are expected to be hot topics.
Nonetheless, I do find it suspect that Zuckerberg is only meeting with top Republicans, including John Boehner. Forgive my cynicism, but if he wanted to tackle the surveillance issue, shouldn’t he be meeting with both sides of the isle? Then I read about his other political contributions, and that makes me a little more suspect. I’m not suspect about his intentions about the NSA. I’m sure he’s doing this to protect his best interest and his users. He knows much of the public is sick and tired of this kind of spying. What if people stop using Facebook because of these NSA revelations? He can’t have that, can he? So business wise, I believe he’s sincere about taking on gov’t surveillance. But the cynic part comes in when I read about how he’s only meeting with top people from one party. Add that into the thousands he’s contributed to other politicians, and the millions Facebook has given to lobbyists. So what are Zuckerberg’s intentions: are they for us or for his own social/political intentions?