Issue involves U.S. surveillance requests for personal data ; controversy stems from Snowden leaks . Microsoft , Google , Amazon , Facebook and Linked - In sued the government . Deputy Attorney General James Cole , and his chief of staff , David O'Neil , proposed a compromise that prompted the White House to include the issue in the President 's speech . They refuse to tell their customers how many requests came in for information . Government and companies reached an agreement to resolve differences .
Issue involves U.S. surveillance requests for personal data ; controversy stems from Snowden leaks . Microsoft , Google , Amazon , Facebook and Linked - In sued the government . They refuse to tell their customers how many requests came in for information . Government and companies reached an agreement to resolve differences .