[Ingtar]

That is a laugh in one respect. They all respect privacy on a level equal to the NSA.

[frogjerk]

Kettle calling the pot black. I don’t trust any of these organizations either. Heck, Google is probably got the goods on the NSA.

[Gaffer]

These companies gave us up like a two dollar hooker gives it up for a crack rock. Now they’re ‘fighting’ back?

Give me a break.

[KarlInOhio]

I might respect this request more if they hadn't been such roundheels for the NSA before Snowden told the world their little secret.

[varyouga]

Smoke and mirrors. They let the NSA in with open arms until the pesky peasants found out

[Red Badger]

Don’t use the internet, don’t use a telephone, don’t send any mail and you’re safe..............

[sunrise_sunset]

Funny but I think liberals are saying about the same thing.

They are panicked because they are losing contracts and business overseas as well. That is the extent of their moral concern.

[Paulie]

A lot of customers must now be former customers...

[Cementjungle]

Sounds like nothing more than a PR campaign. We all remember Obama’s visits with the heads of most of these companies early in his first term. They got into bed with him, and now we know it. They’re embarrassed that they got exposed, but I’m sure they aren’t going to change their ways.

[null and void]

I use StartPage and am waiting patiently for a StartMail account.

RFID Song

[Colonel_Flagg]

So the people who track my movements across the internet and share my personal information for advertising purposes are now concerned about privacy.

Oh, the irony.

[John W]

How about AT&T and Verizon?

[bgill]

We heard of this union long before Snowden. These companies didn’t do anything 3 years or so ago and they’ll not do anything in the future. It’s nothing but a feel good piece.

[MaxMax]

IF there were warrants issued from the NSA then there's a paper trail. Those Warrants
should be released for public viewing and the Judges also held accountable
for violating Constitutional rights.

[RayChuang88]

Only one problem: the wrong companies are making this request.

Here's the issue: many suspect that the NSA has been directly tapping into the Internet backbone lines owned by AT&T, Level 3, Sprint and Verizon. If these companies I mentioned aren't speaking up to curb the NSA's activities, that original "open letter" is all for naught.

[Alas Babylon!]

I think I have to disagree with everyone replying here (so far) in that it is a right start, at least.

Yes, many of these companies collect user data. But you can simply refuse to be one of their users. It's private enterprise and business, as long as they inform you, have the right to contractually keep your data.

It is a good start because it brings to light that there has been way too much of this type of data collecting going on, both from the government and the businesses.

The businesses now know that this is an important issue and I think they will be forced, by customer complaints or market forces in which other competing companies promise not to collect data, into not collecting such data.

Now as far as the government goes, I absolutely think the whole law is a violation of the US Constitution—the government does not nor should not have the power to collect this type of data on Americans.

Did you know that part of the surveillance laws was that the tech Company COULD NOT tell their customers that the government was forcing them to pass on private user data?

In any case, the financial, legal and moral push-back against personal data collection needs to be waged, and this is a rightward step in that direction. Far more needs to be done, no more sweeping under the rug, etc., etc.

[mowowie]

I remember seeing Zuckerfuk on live TV denying any cooperation with the NSA then a week later we find that Facebook was in total cahoots with the NSA all along.
F Zuck and all these other traitors.

[VideoDoctor]

Somehow I tend to believe that the NSA’s actions is in some way costing these conglomerates MONEY or they would not be taking this stance.