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> They were forced into doing this by the US government

This is a convenient position to take, which clears Google of any responsibility.

There were companies, smaller than Google, that stood up against government requests to spy on their customers. Quest is one of them. But Google agreed to the terms, "signed papers", and has been cooperating ever since.

More so, Google et al. deliberately lied about commitment to user privacy, which all of the PRISM participants reiterated in their press-releases after Snowden revealed the program.

> I think this letter is a good thing

This letter is a good thing, but little more than good PR.

Releasing statistics on government requests has no implications on the PRISM program, which gives intelligence agencies unhindered access to our data.

I think it's a little unfair to pride oneself as a privacy activist, while spying on your users.



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