(PCM) Social media giant Twitter has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government for the right to disclose and publish the full amount of government surveillance requests they receive.
Twitter has always been a huge advocate for free speech and would like the opportunity to be more forthcoming with its’ users about the full nature and the total number of requests for private user information that they receive from government agencies.
The lawsuit is based off an agreement made between internet companies such as Google and Microsoft which allow these companies the right to disclose the number of orders they receive, however only in broad ranges for example zero to 999.
In their lawsuit Twitter is stating that they should have the right to disclose the exact number of request that they receive rather than a broad range. Twitter vice president Ben Lee had the following to say “It’s our belief that we are entitled under the First Amendment to respond to our users’ concerns and to the statements of U.S. government officials by providing information about the scope of U.S. government surveillance — including what types of legal process have not been received”.
Twitter made an attempt to send a full disclosure report over to the FBI for publishing approval back in April of this year, but were denied their right to publish. Do you think as social media users we should have the full right to know the number of requests and just who may be looking at our accounts? Or do you feel it is an issue of national and international security and should remain secret?