Twitter and Microsoft have joined Google and Facebook in seeking permission to disclose more details about the government's secret requests for cyber data to allay fears of consumers about privacy.
The 29-year-old NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden recently revealed that the U.S. government has been monitoring millions of phone calls and internet usage in the country.
The internet companies want the government to allow them to explain that under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa) the companies are bound to cede to the government's request. The companies are worried that the latest controversy will spoil their image.
"Permitting greater transparency on the aggregate volume and scope of national security requests, including Fisa orders, would help the community understand and debate these important issues," said Microsoft in an emailed statement to the Reuters news agency.
A national security letter is used by the U.S. government agencies like the FBI and NSA to seek access to internet data from companies who are forbidden to reveal the secret requests.
Google on Tuesday wrote to the U.S. attorney general asking for permission to disclose the number of NSL requests that the company had received under the controversial Fisa. Facebook has also joined the call with Google.
Later Twitter along with Microsoft joined their rival Google and Facebook in the push for permission to disclose the secret requests that they received from the National Secret Agency.
Twitter's chief lawyer Alex Macgillivray tweeted Tuesday, "We'd like more NSL [national security letter] transparency and Twitter supports efforts to make that happen."
"Transparency reports" published by Google, Microsoft and Twitter don't include Fisa requests or other NSL demands in the U.S., The Guardian reported.
The American Civil Liberties Union has also filed a lawsuit against the monitoring of phone calls and internet usage in the country.
