Online privacy has been a concern for many people for quite some time, but ever since Edward J. Snowden released the details of NSA spying and surveillance efforts, the issue has really taken center stage. Major data focused companies, such as Google, are being pressured by consumers to push back against government requests for information.
Many tech companies are publically coming out saying that they will deny as many requests for information as they legally can, and make it difficult for government (US and foreign) to tap their data. Google’s security chief, Eric Grosse, for example, recently stated, “I am willing to help on the purely defensive side of things, but signals intercept is totally off the table.” This comment is referring to general intelligence gathering efforts that are taking place.
He went on to say, “No hard feelings, but my job is to make their job harder.” Referring to the job of the NSA and other government agencies that attempt to gather data from Google.
Another step that Google is taking to make it more difficult for their data to be intercepted is laying their own fiber optic cable under the oceans. This project is extremely expensive up front, but will allow them to have greater control over all the data that they maintain. In addition, it will offer long term cost savings.
As Google and other tech companies attempt to make it more difficult for governments to gather data, however, government agencies are coming up with new ways to get the data they want. This process by governments and tech companies has been compared to a ‘digital arms race’ where both sides are continuously attempting to stay ahead of the other.
While this may be concerning to many, it will also likely lead to new and innovative technologies on both sides which could be important advancements in the future.
