Apple and Google just met with the government to discuss secret spy plans

In what sounds like something out of the plot from James Bond, Apple and Google representatives have supposedly met with a group of government officials in an 18th century English mansion (pictured) to discuss government surveillance.

The Intercept reports that the meeting took place behind closed doors over three-days and featured government officials from  the UK, USA, Australia, France. Germany, Canada and Sweden.

On the agenda was a discussion around the line between privacy and security.

An event program also obtained by The Intercept found that discussion points included:

– Are we being misled by the term ‘mass surveillance’?

– Is spying on allies/friends/potential adversaries inevitable if there is a perceived national security interest?

– Who should authorise intrusive intelligence operations such as interception?

– What should be the nature of the security relationship between intelligence agencies and private sector providers, especially when they may in any case be cooperating against cyber threats in general?

– How much should the press disclose about intelligence activity?

Apple has a bit of history in the spy game. If you remember back in 2011 there was a bit of furore over the tech giant tracking users movements in a less than forthcoming manner.

Words by John Cooper