I think its a bit of both really. On Mon, Jul 1, 2013 at 1:17 PM, Ken wrote: > Are these online petitions worth signing? Or is it just a way to get your > email addy on more spam lists? > > > -K > > > > ----- Forwarded Message ----- > *From:* Change.org > *To:* parabellum7@yahoo.com > *Sent:* Monday, July 1, 2013 9:39 AM > *Subject:* Secret spying on your Internet activity? > > [image: Change.org] > *Ken* - There's a new petition taking off on Change.org, and we think you > might be interested in signing it: > Eric > Holder: Allow tech companies to publish NSA PRISM data > By Alec F. Alameda, California > Sign Alec's Petition > > After a leak of documents from the National Security Agency > showed that a secret program called PRISM allows widespread surveillance of > U.S. citizens' phone and internet activities with some of the world's > biggest tech corporations, the nation is concerned and confused about our > privacy rights. > President Obama and the NSA have stated that widespread spying of > Americans is not taking place and that the government is only requesting > certain data from these companies. There is an easy way to show if this is > true and that companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Twitter have > taken the commendable step of requesting that the NSA allow them to publish > the records of government data requests in their company transparency > reports. > In part, Google's letter states: > *Assertions in the press that our compliance with these requests gives > the U.S. government unfettered access to our users’ data are simply untrue. > However, government nondisclosure obligations regarding the number of FISA > national security requests that Google receives, as well as the number of > accounts covered by those requests, fuel that speculation.* > * > We therefore ask you to help make it possible for Google to publish in our Transparency > Report aggregate > numbers of national security requests, including FISA disclosures—in terms > of both the number we receive and their scope. Google’s numbers would > clearly show that our compliance with these requests falls far short of the > claims being made. Google has nothing to hide. * > The government allowed Google to start reporting the number of national > security letters they received requesting data earlier this year, but > they are still barred from releasing information about Foreign Intelligence > Surveillance Act (FISA) orders. The requests for this data often comes in > the form of secret court orders that not only force these companies to give > data but also make it impossible for them to discuss even the basic > details. That should change. > By allowing these companies to include this information in their > transparency reports, the government will be giving American citizens at > least some of the insight we deserve about how our daily activities like > emails and Google searches are being tracked by the government. > Sign Alec's Petition > > The person (or organization) who started this petition is > not affiliated with Change.org. Change.org did not create this petition and > is not responsible for the petition content. > This email was sent by Change.org to parabellum7@yahoo.com. You can edit > your email preferencesor > unsubscribefrom Change.org emails. > Start a petition on Change.org > Mailing Address: Change.org · 216 W 104th St., #130 · New York, NY 10025 > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > -- A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button. Stephen