Access Now Urges Verizon to Make Stronger Privacy Rights Commitment as It Acquires Yahoo
With the recent revelation that Yahoo complied with a government order to scan all incoming email traffic (see 1610050038), Access Now is urging Verizon, which is in the process of acquiring Yahoo, to show strong support for the privacy rights…
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of global users. "As you engage in due diligence around the acquisition, we urge you to probe the privacy and security risks and safeguards needed to protect Yahoo! and Verizon users," wrote Access Now's policy experts Drew Mitnick, Peter Micek and Amie Stepanovich in a Wednesday letter to Verizon General Counsel Craig Silliman. The letter complimented Verizon and Yahoo for past actions both companies have taken in protecting the privacy rights of users and curbing government surveillance. But the letter said Yahoo's adherence to a government order calls into question its commitment to users and urged Verizon to investigate that "complicity." Access Now recommended: Verizon and Yahoo consult with privacy, security and human rights individuals when receiving such government orders; ensure that both companies issue regular transparency reports about such requests; provide strong encryption and data security protections (see 1609280050); publish a human rights impact assessment for the Yahoo acquisition; and forge better partnerships with private sector and civil society groups on protecting user rights. Verizon said in a statement it has "an on-going and constructive engagement with Access Now and will review their recommendations and consider them carefully."