Technology companies ask U.S. leaders to curb surveillance

Eight of the nation’s largest technology companies called on President Barack Obama and Congress today to impose strict new curbs on surveillance that would reshape intelligence operations that U.S. officials have portrayed as integral to the war on terrorism.

The unified front — featuring companies such as Google and Microsoft that compete fiercely on business matters — underscored the alarm among technology leaders over revelations that the National Security Agency has collected user data far more extensively than the companies understood, in many cases with little or no court oversight.

In a letter to U.S. leaders published in several newspapers today, the coalition calls for an end to bulk collection of user information — such as email, address books and video chats — and for the enactment of significant new protections when courts consider specific surveillance requests.

“We understand that governments have a duty to protect their citizens. But this summer’s revelations highlighted the urgent need to reform government surveillance practices worldwide,” the letter said. “The balance in many countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual — rights that are enshrined in our Constitution. This undermines the freedoms we all cherish.”

In addition to Microsoft and Google, the signers are Apple, Facebook, LinkedIn, Yahoo, AOL and Twitter.