Get All Access for $5/mo

Dropbox Addresses NSA Surveillance Fears in New Privacy Policy The online storage company has a new set of data request principles to guide its decision making when responding to government requests.

By Benjamin Kabin

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

dropbox.com

Dropbox has updated its privacy policy to address privacy concerns about the National Security Agency's requests for user data.

In a new section, the company pledges to abide by its Government Request Principles when "receiving, scrutinizing and responding to government requests for our users' data."

"Stewardship of your data is critical to us and a responsibility that we embrace. We believe that our users' data should receive the same legal protections regardless of whether it's stored on our services or on their home computer's hard drive," the new policy says.

Related: The NSA Is Using Angry Birds to Spy on You

Dropbox says it promises to fight blanket data requests and protect its systems from intrusive measures like government-installed backdoors.

The company also believes technology companies should be able to report specific numbers in terms of the government data requests they receive and that such requests should be limited to specific people and investigations. At present that isn't the case, but Dropbox, along with other outspoken tech companies, says it will work toward to change those laws.

Earlier this month, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo and LinkedIn were able to disclose some details about the requests they received from the government. The disclosures, however, are still fairly vague.

Dropbox's new privacy policy goes into effect on March 24.

Related: Which Age Group Is Most Likely to Be Hacked?

Benjamin Kabin

Journalist

Benjamin Kabin is a Brooklyn-based technology journalist who specializes in security, startups, venture capital and social media.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Southwest Is Making a Major Change to Its Boarding Process

The airline is quietly offering higher fees in exchange for the ability to pre-select seats.

Side Hustle

'I Could Never Go Back to Corporate': She Quit Her Silicon Valley Tech Job After Her Creative Side Hustle Hit 6 Figures

As a college student, A Jar of Pickles owner Kirstie Wang found it difficult to focus in class — instead teaching herself Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

Business News

A Fifth Walt Disney World Theme Park Could Be Coming Soon — Here's What We Know

A unanimous agreement was reached in primary voting between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) on Wednesday.

Business News

Adobe Photoshop Users Are Outraged at the Company's New Terms: 'Am I Reading This Right?'

Adobe's new terms and conditions have creatives in an uproar.

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Growing a Business

7 Strategies to Recession Proof Your Business in 2024 and Beyond

Insulate yourself from the turbulence so you can maximize the opportunities and grow.