Security must not trump privacy

San Jose Mercury News: The more we learn about the National Security Agency’s misuse of the Internet as a massive surveillance tool, the more urgent it becomes for Silicon Valley to push back to protect privacy rights.

Lost in the furor over the government shutdown, NSA officials made some shocking revelations last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee: They have the ability to track individual Americans’ cellphone locations. NSA chief Gen. Keith Alexander also admitted there had been 12 known cases of abuse of this power by agency employees, who had spied on people for personal reasons.

Kudos to companies such as Google and Yahoo that are pushing back on the NSA’s intrusions. But the entire valley should be uniting to salvage consumer trust. It is a business issue, but pursuing it can benefit all of society.

The right to privacy is a basic freedom that is every bit as compelling as the need to protect Americans against the threat of a terrorist attack.

The NSA must not be allowed to go on fishing expeditions through Internet users’ information without showing cause. The less secure people believe their information is, the more they will limit their use of online commerce, and a major economic engine for this country will be at risk.