# Demand Transparency on Surveillance Now

By [Albert's Import](https://paragraph.com/@albertsimport) · 2013-07-18

transparency, white house, government, surveillance

---

The Internet makes possible unprecedented levels of transparency. That is why it all the more disconcerting that large government programs operate entirely in secret. [Nick Grossman](http://nickgrossman.is/) has an [important post up today](http://www.usv.com/2013/07/transparency-in-government-surveillance.php) on the USV blog about starting by giving companies the right to disclose government information requests and also requiring government to provide the same information. Here is a key section:

> We can start to do this by being open about the extent of data sharing between internet companies and governments. Google pioneered this approach in 2010 with their[Transparency Report](https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/), and Twitter has [done the same](https://transparency.twitter.com/information-requests/US) since 2012. However, it has become clear over the past month that even when a transparent relationship with their users about the use of user data is an important brand promise, companies are prevented by the government from delivering on that promise when confronted by[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Intelligence_Surveillance_Act) requests and [National Security Letters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Letter).

I recommend you [read the complete post](http://www.usv.com/2013/07/transparency-in-government-surveillance.php) and then [head over to sign the White House Petition](https://weneedtoknow.info/).

---

*Originally published on [Albert's Import](https://paragraph.com/@albertsimport/demand-transparency-on-surveillance-now)*