SUBSCRIBE TO TMCnet
TMCnet - World's Largest Communications and Technology Community

CHANNEL BY TOPICS


QUICK LINKS




Non-U.S. Companies Cancel Contracts Over NSA Spy Controversy

TMCnet Feature

July 24, 2013

Non-U.S. Companies Cancel Contracts Over NSA Spy Controversy

Share
Tweet
By Erin Harrison
Executive Editor, Cloud Computing

In the wake of the revelation of the NSA spy program, non-U.S. companies are showing their reluctance to work with U.S.-based cloud service providers. In fact, 10 percent of 207 officials at non-U.S. companies have canceled contracts with U.S. service providers following the revelation of the NSA spy program last month, according to Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) survey.


The survey also revealed that 56 percent of non-U.S. respondents are now hesitant to work with any U.S.-based cloud service providers. While some skepticism was expected, this level of distrust is farther-reaching than anticipated, according to Jim Reavis, co-founder and executive director of the CSA.

“The level of skepticism was greater than I expected,” Reavis said. “I had thought that more people would understand that these activities happen all the time in their countries as well.

Only about three out of 10 survey respondents said Snowden’s disclosures will have no impact on their use of U.S.-based cloud services. The survey also found that 36 percent of U.S. businesses said the Snowden controversy will make it more difficult for them to conduct business outside the U.S.

In the aftermath of whistle-blower Edward Snowden, who said the U.S. has apparently been spying on its own citizens by tapping into the servers of technology giants including Google (News - Alert), Apple and Facebook, European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said recently that there is a clear need for a transparent legal framework around cloud computing in Europe.

As details continue to emerge surrounding the U.S. government’s alleged widespread surveillance programs, European officials are airing their concerns about setting stricter privacy controls and warning organizations to steer away from U.S.-based service companies, TMCnet reported.

While employed as a contractor for Booz Allen, Snowden, who worked within the NSA at the Kunia Regional SIGINT Operations Center in Hawaii, claims that he took the job for the specific purpose of discovering and leaking information about the NSA’s worldwide surveillance activities, including the PRISM program in the U.S. and the Tempora program with the British Government Communication Headquarters.

PRISM, which is an acronym for “Planning Tool for Resource Integration, Synchronization and Management,” is a computer program developed by the NSA to collect and analyze all of the data that the NSA has requested from Internet companies.

Following Snowden’s leaks, the E.U. Parliament voted overwhelmingly to investigate the privacy and civil rights implications of the NSA spy programs on European citizens, and to seek more information from U.S. authorities.




Edited by Rich Steeves


View all articles


Comments powered by Disqus








Technology Marketing Corporation

2 Trap Falls Road Suite 106, Shelton, CT 06484 USA
Ph: +1-203-852-6800, 800-243-6002

General comments: [email protected].
Comments about this site: [email protected].

STAY CURRENT YOUR WAY

© 2024 Technology Marketing Corporation. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy