Internet Infrastructure Coalition Statement on NSA Information Gathering

Washington, DC – Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) Co-Founder and Board Chair Christian Dawson today released the following statement on the National Security Agency’s information gathering program and efforts to declassify the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court’s order related to the program:

“This country faces a delicate balance every day between security and an open Internet. Those of us who work in the Internet infrastructure industry find ourselves at the center of this challenge on a regular basis. Recent news stories create uncertainty and doubt in the minds of many of our customers, especially as we compete on the global stage. The i2Coalition believes that there must be greater transparency about U.S. government access to online data.

“The i2Coalition supports efforts to declassify the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court’s order related to the National Security Agency’s information gathering program that has recently been the focus of public attention. While we must continue to respect the need for accurate intelligence to safeguard our nation’s security, we also need the opportunity for an open, robust discussion of how to do so while respecting personal privacy and Internet freedom. We will continue to advocate for laws and regulations that preserve Fourth Amendment protections, including judicial review and particularized suspicion as conditions of any warrants.”