Facebook and Google deny all knowledge of 'outrageous' US surveillance programme claimed to be using their data to spy on you
The bosses of tech giants Facebook and Google last night personally insisted they had no knowledge of a US surveillance programme which has reportedly been using their servers to spy on internet users - including UK nationals.
Pouring fresh scrutiny over tech firms' approach to privacy and personal data, the Guardian this week obtained leaked US National Security Agency documents which appear to claim that AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, PalTalk and Yahoo have cooperated with the snooping scheme Prism.
But all the companies named have since denied that they knew about Prism and are adamant that they did not grant the US government access to their systems.
Posting on Facebook last night, the social network's founder Mark Zuckerberg said he wanted to "respond personally to the outrageous press reports about Prism".
Zuckerberg wrote: "Facebook is not and has never been part of any programme to give the US or any other government direct access to our servers. We have never received a blanket request or court order from any government agency asking for information or metadata in bulk, like the one Verizon reportedly received. And if we did, we would fight it aggressively. We hadn't even heard of Prism before yesterday.
"When governments ask Facebook for data, we review each request carefully to make sure they always follow the correct processes and all applicable laws, and then only provide the information if is required by law. We will continue fighting aggressively to keep your information safe and secure."
Zuckerberg finished his post with a call to "all governments to be much more transparent" about their security measures.
The transparency sentiment was shared by Google co-founder Larry Page, who in a blogpost co-authored with the firm's legal honcho David Drummond and titled 'What the...?', again denied all links to Prism.
"First, we have not joined any program that would give the US government – or any other government – direct access to our servers. Indeed, the US government does not have direct access or a 'back door' to the information stored in our data centers. We had not heard of a program called Prism until yesterday," they wrote.
"Second, we provide user data to governments only in accordance with the law. Our legal team reviews each and every request, and frequently pushes back when requests are overly broad or don't follow the correct process."
They concluded that the "level of secrecy around the current legal procedures undermines the freedoms we all cherish".
As tech firms distance themselves from Prism, the spotlight now falls on Government Communications Headquarters, the UK surveillance centre that is being forced to explain its own relationship with the US security services.
The Guardian has gone as far as to claim that GCHQ has been using Prism to gather intelligence in a manner that would circumvent the formal legal processes usually required in the UK to obtain access to material such as emails, photos and videos.
GCHQ is expected to give a report to parliament's intelligence and security committee on Monday detailing its links to Prism.
Committee chairman Sir Malcolm Rifkind said: "The ISC is aware of the allegations surrounding data obtained by GCHQ via the US Prism programme.
"The ISC will be receiving a full report from GCHQ very shortly and will decide what further action needs to be taken as soon as it receives that information."
US president Barack Obama had earlier defended the security scheme, insisting his administration had struck "the right balance" between security and privacy.
"You can't have 100 per cent security, and also then have 100 per cent privacy and zero inconvenience," Obama said.