-based internet giants this week, google, facebook, yahoo!, microsoft coming out and actually saying they thought the balance between the power of the state and the rights of individuals has gotten out of whack. >> the statement from the companies has enormous implications. one very thoughtful technology organization which intel belongs to, an important employer, in my state estimated that the damages in terms of lost revenues result of these nsa practices would approach $35 billion between now and 2016. and i think it is going to be bad for the country, bad for their customers here. bad for their brand overseas.

eight major companies, including apple, facebook, google, microsoft and twitter, banded together to write an open letter to the president and congress. it appeared in full-page newspaper ads and online. the letter read in part:

millions of phone records in america every day and it also has access to internet giants like google facebook microsoft and it's harvesting online data around the globe on top of that the security agency's target european citizens and even leaders but at the same time germany and the u.k. along with australia and canada are actually closely collaborating with american intelligence latin american governments and companies are a target for u.s. spies plus the n.s.a. is collecting data from fiber optic cables that carry most of the world's internet and phone traffic before her cia officer ray mcgovern believes those of violating privacy should face justice not the leakers. i am delighted to hear that ed snowden on his desk in honolulu had a copy of the constitution of the united states all dog eared because he used it to argue with his in his campaign there it is say as to whether what they were doing was illegal whether it was constitutional whether it was a crime for them to be corrupt to be cooperated in using their technical expertise to violate americans privacy right and left the question should be

it also has access to internet giants like google facebook microsoft its harvesting online data around the globe on top of that the security agencies targets european citizens and even tops eu leaders at the same time germany and the uk along with australia and canada are actually close to collaborating with american intelligence. latin american governments and companies are a major target for u s spies us the nsa is collecting data from fiber optic cables to carry most of the world's internet and phone traffic former c i a officer ray mcgovern believe those violating privacy to face just it's not the lakers. i am delighted to hear that it snowed in on his desk in honolulu had a copy of the constitution united states bulldog years because he used it to argue with this is a patriot spirit of the state as to whether what they were doing was legal weather was constitutional whether it was in a crime for them to be corrected. he cooperated in using their technical expertise to violate americans' privacy right to left. the question should be why those who are aided and abetted this know whe

millions of phone records in america every day and it also has access to internet giants like google facebook microsoft that's harvesting online data around the globe on top of that the security agency's targets european citizens and even taps e.u. leaders but at the same time germany and the u.k. along with australia and canada are actually closely collaborating with american intelligence latin american governments and companies are a major target for u.s. spies plus the n.s.a. is collecting data from fiber optic cables that carry most of the world's internet and phone traffic former cia officer ray mcgovern believes those violating privacy should face justice not the leakers. i am delighted to hear that ed snowden on his desk in honolulu had a copy of the constitution of the united states all dog eared because he used it to argue with his his compatriots there it is say as to whether what they were doing was legal whether it was constitutional whether it was a crime for them to be corrupt to be cooperated in using their technical expertise to violate america's privacy right and left the question shou

. >> companies like google, facebook, apple, microsoft, they provide the nsa direct access to the back ends of all of the systems you used to store data, to put things in the cloud, and even second birthday wishes. and they give nsa direct access that they don't need to oversee. >> these businesses are long complied with legal obligations to hand over certain information about suspicious customers. but revelations of data gathering without the company's knowledge has lead these tech ts to rethink their obligations. microsoft's general council spoke this week on the official company blog, many of our customers have serious concerns about government surveillance of the internet. we share their concerns, that's why we are taking legal steps to ensure governments use process rather than brute force to access customer data. we areess specially alarmed by recent articles in the press to sir couple event online security measures. google, twitter yahoo and now microsoft have expressed concerns over surveillance and are changing encryption technology they employ to protect their customers. publ

senior executives including some ceos from companies such as aol, facebook, google , linkedin, microsoft, twitter and yahoo signed the letter. a new sympathy button is said to be in the works at facebook. for now facebook users have two choices on the website: a thumbs up if they like a post or thumbs down if they don't. the bbc reports-- developers are creating a button that would reflect- " hey" i sympathize" with what you are posting. the report says a facebook created the new button as an internal project-- and there are currently no plans for its launch. it's a new year and a new chief executive for hologic. former head of stryker corp., james macmillan, is in the top spot. it's the third ceo in less than a year for the medical device maker. jack cumming took over for robert cascella in july. the company also named two new independent board members, both managing directors of icahn capital. it's a not-so-happy anniversary for victims of bernie madoff. this month marks five years since madoff was sent to prison for 150 years for bilking billions of dollars from trusting investors in

. >> these are a who's who of wall street, tech giants apple, google, facebook, microsoft, linkedin, twitter and aol banning together and put a letter to president obama and congress and looking to change the way that the government snoops on us while we're online and more specificcally trying to limit the information and collection of information on us. the tech leaders are worried if people won't use their technology because they don't trust it, that will hurt them in the long run. president obama said the nsa does not listen in on phone calls but outside the borders the president says the nsa is more aggressive. the idea of big brother keeping track of our activity online just not sitting well with these companies. john? >> so alison, here is the thing. i feel like facebook and google know more about me than my wife does. isn't it a little bit hypocritical for some of the companies to talk about privacy issues? >> i think it is a little bit of hypocrisy going on. google and yahoo! collect information. it's the bread and butter of their revenue is to collect our information, so the

apple, microsoft, google, facebook, twitter and others. they want to come to the white house and talk about the economic impact of this surveillance. and now a federal judge has weighed in. the national security agency is collecting so much secret data that it's building a new facility in utah just to hold it all. but a federal judge says collecting records of every phone call made to and from americans is unconstitutional. an indiscriminate and arbitrary invasion of privacy. >> it's untargeted, it's in bulk, and that's what makes it more troubling. >> reporter: the judge says a 1979 ruling that said americans do not have a right to private phone records is outdated because everyone has a cell phone now. the nsa has defended its program saying they only tap into that database with had there's evidence to suspect someone in the u.s. is collaborating with terrorists. >> the purpose of these programs and the reason we use secrecy is not to hide it from the american people, not to hide it from you, but to hide it from those who walk among you

this includes google, linkedin, also aol, apple, facebook, microsoft, twitter, yahoo! very big names there. the fact that these companies have come together illustrates how concerned they are about the nsa surveillance issue. when you consider that many of these are competitors if not arch rivals. in an open let tear the president published in major newspapers and also on a new website, this group is suggesting five ways the spy agency can be reined in. the group would like the nsa to stop bulk collection of data, like there to be more oversight and account built. when the nsa requests legal data they would like to be able to publicize it. this is all in response to revelations this past summer by the edward snowden leaks that the n 60s a collected data from the companies reportedly without the companies knowing or giving permission. they are trying to reassure customers that data is safe and they are sensitive to what is stine as a government intrusion into privacy. >> thanks very much. >> new this morning, all lanes in 880 in oakland are open after a big rig crashed

-based internet giants this week, google, facebook, yahoo!, microsoft coming out and actually saying they thought the balance between the power of the state and the rights of individuals has gotten out of whack. >> the statement from the companies has enormous implications. one very thoughtful technology organization which intel belongs to, an important employer, in my state estimated that the damages in terms of lost revenues result of these nsa practices would approach $35 billion between now and 2016. and i think it is going to be bad for the country, bad for their customers here. bad for their brand overseas. >> do you even know how many americans are being swept up, have been swept up in this nsa surveillance that is actually targeted on overseas terror theft. >> we have asked this question, in classified sessions, in public sessions. and largely have been stonewalled. now of course the information that has been declassified, you know, recently indicates that thousands of americans have had information, you know, collected on them. and that really

google, microsoft, apple, facebook, twitter, linked in, yahoo! and aol sent an open letter to congress, calling for reforms and restrictions on how the government collects data on internet users. they also want government agencies to be more transparent on what they're looking for. >>> well, some of the tech companies have seen their share prices soar this year, but not every company has been so foreig fortunate. we take a look at some of the stocks. >> reporter: dogs to darlings, when one of the biggest losers one year turn into rising stars the next. it is a trend that the portfolio managers watch closely. >> it is almost a wall street tradition but not one lightly taken, and especially in a year where you have seen significant out-performance by many stocks. >> it happened last year when bank of america more than doubled. one of the top gainers in the s&p 500. a year after it lost 58% signs of recovery in the housing market and better than expected earnings were good for bank stocks in 2012. on the other hand, best buy, hp, pitney bowes, among

the online privacy of gamers it doesn't come at a good time either today is the day that facebook microsoft google and other large tech companies have written an open letter to the u.s. government asking them to dramatically change their surveillance operations so no matter how you spin it it just doesn't look good when you find out that g c h q and the n.s.a. have been found to be playing world of warcraft. author international life coming up in this hour we'll be discussing ukraine's future with international affairs experts and any peace that's after the break. they look like bounty islands. can enjoy the song on the ocean. but what was buried here years ago. people are suffering the consequences. how much more poison lies on the ground. behind this there is what we call the callet bank on which there is a deposit of plutonium left by security test which caused the dispersion of radion you clyde's despite previous cleaning efforts there remains a deposit of a little less than two kilos of plutonium stuck in the rock the coral reef about ten metres down. a never ending legacy. the national live

box live players have been having and of course the news comes at a time when microsoft google facebook and other technology giants have written an open letter to the u.s. government calling on them to review their security and their surveillance operations so no matter how you spin it it's just not the best day for the n.s.a. n.g.c. h.q. to be found to have been playing world of warcraft just doesn't look good. for of london paula thank you very much indeed about where. the u.s. defense secretary chuck hagel has landed in pakistan to try and iron out entrenched differences between washington and islamabad american drone strikes our central sticking point they've killed almost a thousand civilians in the country since two thousand and three and triggered a wave of protests but blocks are made to supply trucks to afghanistan two weeks ago for freelance journalist who is in islamabad for. but this is the first visit by the u.s. defense secretary. to pakistan in four years which shows how much the u.s. wants to build a relationship with pakistan and ease tensions which have been occurring

the online privacy of game is it doesn't come at a good time either today is the day that facebook microsoft google and other large tech companies have written an open letter to the u.s. government asking them to dramatically change their surveillance operations so no matter how you spin it it just doesn't look good when you find out that g c h q and the n.s.a. have been found to be playing world of warcraft. well looking for terrorists in online games was probably just a good excuse to play around at work the opinion of john hicks the editor of x. box magazine. i must confess to being in flux as to how you would actually track down terrorists and it's made it's not doesn't really seem like the sort of environment where you could do it we could do that easily there are no will be use ways to you know to turn the conversation around terrorism. seem to think it's all just. people so you are just playing games at work so i think. you know the scale of the n.s.a. revelations from the snow files i think it's hasn't really come as a surprise to anybody like the fact that you know the n.s.a. is already mo

the online privacy of gamers it doesn't come at a good time either today is the day that facebook microsoft google and other large tech companies have written an open letter to the u.s. government asking them to dramatically change their surveillance operations so no matter how you spin it it just doesn't look good when you find out that g c h q and the n.s.a. have been found to be playing world of warcraft. bahrain's throne another group of activists including minors behind bars bringing the total number of those arrested in december alone to twenty eight protesters say in recent months the government's crackdown has become in sufferable of the bahraini people struggle for reform goes back almost three years now to february two thousand and eleven when four demonstrators were killed as a police crushed a rally well less than a month later the authorities imposed martial law which allowed troops to suppress the dissent by that time the number of those arrested sort of a thousand and that is increased threefold by now but legal and physical pressure on the activists as failed to kill the protest mo

google, microsoft, facebook, how do they fit into what is going on with the legal apparatus? >> it is interesting. first, they have their own suits that are moving through right now. where they are focused on is this secret court, the fisc, that is basically compelling them to comply with the government's requests for this -- for these data points for their customers. what they want is to be able to disclose more information about that. they've got their own separate legal track. as far as the case itself, it puts new pressure on the white house. their task force on the intelligence collection delivered a report, some recommendations. the president is going to speak on those sometime in january. the tech companies made their points today. the hope is that the case that is going to right now may actually bolster the case that the white house needs to be more transparent about what they are doing. >> while that meeting was going on, the white house was actually announcing that they were taking someone from the technology sector in order to help them with their health care rollo

. >> for a while now the world has been eyeing the nsa, twitter, facebook, google, microsoft just tome a few. in an open letter posted online it calls for tighter security on collection of personal data, it also promotes individual privacy. the latest group of, reportedly spied on gamers to counterterrorism. >> the nsa document shows the concern that the nsa has that terrorists could communicate, transfer funds, via this these types of games. this one is second life frequent and here you can build a character you can communicate with others, chat, you can guy things online, you can can buy land, you can buy using what's called lyndon dollars and those can be converted to regular u.s. dollars. another popular game is called world of war craft. some 7 million paid subscribers per month use this game. in this game you have some characters, you go around and fight against monsters and these are games where people can make friends online very easily, communicate very easily. i spoke with justin elliot from pro-publica, one of the agencies that broke these stories, and asked him about ways

. >> now google, microsoft, apple and facebook, they are usually fierce competitors, but today they are a few of the big-name technology companies coming together, demanding strict new curbs on government surveillance. the national security agency checked far more user data than the companies realize. i am joined by a national technology reporter for the washington post. are the tech companies here motivated by principle or profit? >> i am guessing both. nobody likes having their stuff stolen, and that is what has happened here. it is bad business for users to think their information is going to be stolen if they give it to google or yahoo. they knew they were giving information to the u.s. government under court order. but the extent has taken this them by shock. data was selected from fiber on particular cables over southeast. >> what about the chance of a new law being passed? >> hard to know where this is going. the u.s. congress is not known for its efficiency. this has gotten the world's attention. i think the shape is early to tell, but i wouldn't be surprised to see some kind of

about the online privacy of game is doesn't come at a good time either today is the day that facebook microsoft google and other large tech companies have written an open letter to the u.s. government asking them to dramatically change their surveillance operations so no matter how you spin it it just doesn't look good when you find out that g c h q and the n.s.a. have been found to be playing world of warcraft. in london and john hicks he's editor of x. box magazine has but your money he thinks although the n.s.a.'s interest in online games is unusual the revelations fail to surprise anyone all that much there are huge number of players and they did and people do spend a lot of time in these games they form kind of lost being social. range of people as a rich history of people getting married having messy not world of warcraft and that kind of thing i die i must confess to being in flux as to how you would actually track down terrorists and it's made it's not doesn't really seem like the sort of environment where you could do it we could do easily the only thing that you could say that they would lea

apple facebook google linked in microsoft twitter and all who signed the letter and created a web site listing five areas of improvement meanwhile more revelations are out this week about what government agencies are doing with their surveillance tools we're for more on that we turn to our tease that sam sachs. this may look like your typical battle between alliance and horde members in the virtual world of warcraft but to the n.s.a. this could also be a secret terrorist gathering today pro publica reported that the n.s.a. and british spies have infiltrated online gaming platforms like world of warcraft and second life looking for terrorists that's what's outlined in an internal n.s.a. documents leaked by edward snowden that focuses on games and virtual worlds the n.s.a. notes as virtual worlds become more popular pervasive and sophisticated so to will terrorist opportunities to exploit them also games provide attractive communications channels for terrorist groups and sympathizers because in game conversations often are difficult or impossible to monitor and games can supplement field

apple facebook google linked in microsoft twitter and yahoo signed the letter and created a website listing five areas of improvement meanwhile more revelations are out this week about what the government agencies are doing with their surveillance tools but for more on that we turn to our tease sam sachs. this may look like your typical battle between alliance and horde members in the virtual world of warcraft but to the n.s.a. this could also be a secret terrorist gathering today pro publica reported that the n.s.a. and british spies have infiltrated online gaming platforms like world of warcraft and second life looking for terrorists that's what's outlined in an internal n.s.a. documents leaked by edward snowden that focuses on games and virtual worlds the n.s.a. notes as virtual worlds become more popular pervasive and sophisticated so to will terrorist opportunities to exploit them also games provide attractive communications channels for terrorist groups and sympathizers because in game conversations often are difficult or impossible to monitor and games can supplement field training b

to some of the biggest names in silicon valley including google, microsoft, facebook, banning together now, calling on the nsa to rein in vast surveillance of americans. melissa, is this just all for pr? are they now on the other end of lots of americans who think it's overdone? >> they're in a really tough spot. because if people don't trust their security on their websites and their browsers, they're not going to go there. that's their bread and butter. that's their business. at the same time, you don't want to cross the government right now. you see what's happened to jp morgan and others. you get out, speak out against the government, you resist, it feels like you become a target. they're in a really tough spot. >> vera? >> consumers obviously need to be protected. that's the role of the government. privacy has become a big issue particularly as of late. it's a big problem. on the other side you do have these big company. they're less interested in privacy as they are in profit. >> they took a big rap recently because consumers felt like they were with the government on this. givin

eight major companies, including apple, facebook, google, microsoft and twitter, banded together to write an open letter to the president and congress. it appeared in full-page newspaper ads and online. the letter read in part: it's the tech giants' latest bid to salvage public trust, amid revelations that they've had to provide users' data to the government. the details come from edward snowden, who leaked a trove of material from the national security agency last summer. intelligence officials maintain the data collection operation has thwarted a number of terror attacks. a presidential advisory panel has been reviewing the issue. its findings could come this week. we hear now from the tech world. brad smith is the general counsel and an executive vice president of microsoft. he's also speaking on behalf of the companies that signed today's letter. >> brad smith, welcome to the program. what is it that the government is doing that microsoft and the other companies want them to stop? well, throughout our industry we're concerned about the increasing reports that government surveillance i

today with the heads of the worlds largest technology companies, including apple to my facebook, google, microsofttwitter, yahoo!? what do you think has to happen? damage, it is clear the reputation went to the u.s. come in these counties in particular, is astronomical. to be measured in the tens of billions of dollars economically, socially, far worse than that. i think many of these companies are now seriously concerned about the ongoing damage that these revelations, but in particular the nsa's activities, have created for them. so i think what we're seeing now is a number of companies, and the ones you mentioned are sort of the vanguard, are saying we must have transparency about what is happening, must cease and desist, have a public debate about what is acceptable to the balance between national security and individual rights. and we must reestablish the global trust in the u.s. as an ethical internet steward and these companies in particular, and i expect they will push back fairly strongly on what has been leaked thus far in terms of the incredibly marginal pivoting the nsa room grew -- re

those are aol, apple, facebook, google, linkedin, microsoft, twitter and yahoo! action all companies either head quart erd here in the bay area or major ties to our region. in a new web side, reform government surveillance.com, the companies established five principles they would like the government to adopt in attempt to rein the spy agency. the group would like the nsa to stop bulk collection of web data, see it have more oversight and accountability, and when the nsa legally requests user data, these companies would like to be able to let people know what the nsa is asking of them. the fact the companies have come together illustrates how important a problem they believe this is because a lot of these companies, most of them, are competitors if not arch rivals. >> thanks, bob. >> continue our coverage with business and tech reporter scott mcgrew. this government spying is giving tech a black eye. >> it has. we have the ad here, they are putting the government on notice they are going to start encrypting data so the government can't look inside. your data is su

the group includes google facebook and microsoft running full page newspaper including a note to president barack obama and open congress. it's signed by eight companies. tech firms want world governments to limit spying online and make surveyillance programs transparent. >>> the first successful budget agreement in two years, reports say would repeal automatic spending cuts and reduce spending of federal agencies to $1 trillion over two fiscal years. >> chuck hagelle visited pakistan today to meet with leaders to talk about u.s. drones. he's the first pentagon chief to visit in four years. in sunday hagel was in afghanistan and told cbs news u.s. forces could pull out of afghanistan at the end of 2014 if the security agreement is not signed. margaret asked if that's a real possibility. >> isn't that an american retreat? >> use any term you want retreat or not renewing our efforts here post 2014. you can say it any way you want. what i'm saying is unless we have the security of an agreement to protect our forces then we'll have no choice. we will not be able to stay. >> we're going ask sen

and clearly, these technology companies, the biggest ones on the planet, facebook, google, apple, microsofte worried about a possible erosion of trust among its users after these nsa disclosures became public and edward snowden became a household name. they have called on the government and the president to show some leadership and provide restraint when it comes to surveillance and written this open letter. it reads in part "the balance in many countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual." wolf, this united and extraordinary show of support among these technology companies really shows that they are deeply concerned about users' privacy and about information continuing exposes. information that may include e-mails or text messages or contacts or the web sites that people serve. that is why they've written this letter. >> in part, it could affect their bottom line, as well. that could be a motivating factor, right? >> no question about it. if people are fearful of using these services, that could affect people going to these sites and that w

aol, apple, facebook, google, linkedin, microsoft, twitter and yahoo!government surveillance coalition and said in open joint letter we understand that governments have the duty to protect our citizens but this summer's revelations highlight urgent need to reform government surveillance practices worldwide. the letter says the balance in many countries tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual, rights enshrined in our constitution. this undermines the freedoms we all cherish. ceos including twitter's, marisa mayer off yahoo!, facebook mark zuckerberg and ceo of google larry page put forth five goals. they're calling on government to limit surveillance to specific users, not to collect data in bulk. they say the company has the right to publish what the government is demanding from them, how much is asked for and how often it is being asked of it. the change comes at the same time reports that american and british spies are using popular videogames like "world of warcraft" and second life to conduct surveillance and

president obama met with executives from leading tech companies as companies including google twitter apple yahoo microsoft facebook and many many more the white house says the meeting was focused on efforts to repair the obama administration's health care that the website is for foreign government information technology however controversial national security agency programs were also on the agenda. since nsa documents were first week back in jan and number of tech companies have been urging president obama to curtail surveillance program the meeting comes just a week after leaders in the industry penned an open letter advocating for radical reforms. the letter said this summer's revelations highlighted the urgent need to reform government surveillance practices world by the balance in many countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual rights that are enshrined in our constitution. this undermines the freedoms we all cherish it's time for change the white house meeting also comes just a day after a federal judge deemed the government's collection of domestic phone re

obama met with executives from leading tech companies those companies including google twitter apple yahoo microsoft facebook and many many more the white house says the meeting was focused on efforts to repair the obama administration's health care dot gov website and for form government information technology however controversial national security agency programs were also on the agenda since n.s.a. documents were first leaked back in june a number of tech companies have been urging president obama to curtail surveillance programs the meeting comes just a week after leaders in the industry penned an open letter advocating for radical reforms the letter said this summer's revelations highlighted the urgent need to reform government surveillance practices worldwide the balance in many countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual rights that are enshrined in our constitution this undermines the freedoms we all cherish it's time for a change the white house meeting also comes just a day after a federal judge deemed the government's collection of domestic phone

microsoft and google joined by apple, yahoo, facebook, twitter, and linked into present a plan to the president and congress on regulating online spying and how the u.s. can put in place a worldwide effort to enforce it. also sponsoring full-page ads, starting a website with a list of their concerns. adam: apple another step closer, set to take preorders from iphones this week. reports say the website is inviting customers to order the iphone 5s on thursday, coming as the mobile giant gets closer to launching 4g service and advertised sales for other smart phones that support the new network. kandi crush, everybody is playing it. the game's huge success is the designers big fear. why it is delaying the public offering, straight ahead. lori: you eat chocolate, i know that much. gearing up for their biggest time of the year. must-see "your wish list" series. adam: americans are losing their taste for beer. a closer look behind the drop in brew sales. capital to make it happen? without the thinking that makes it real? what's a vision without the expertise to execute it... and the financi

some of the biggest names in tech knoll jichlt top executives from apple, yahoo, facebook, google, twitter, comcast, microsoftat, by the way, is just a few of the names. they're all behind a closed door meeting at the white house, a meeting urging the president among other things to reign in the nsa. their visit comes just hours after a u.s. district judge wrote that secretly collecting virtually every american's phone record is, quote, almost orwellian, end quote, and certainly -- almost certainly understand constitutional. here is our chief national security correspondent jim sciutto. >> reporter: six months after edward snowden revealed it to the world, the federal judge ruled the nsa program that sweeps up americans' phone call records is likely unconstitutional. the judge wrote, quote, i cannot imagine a more indiscriminate and arbitrary invasion than this systematic and high-tech collection and rye tension of personal data on virtually every citizen. snowden described it as a vindication of his hacking saying that i acted on my belief that the nsa's mass surveillance system would not withstand a constit

jientsdz are fighting -- giants are fighting back against government snooping, twitter, facebook and microsoft, google just to name a few. collection of personal data it also promotes individual privacy. we should tell you the latest group at the center of government spying is the online community of gamers, documents leaked by nsa whistle blower edward snowden show british and u.s. intelligence reportedly spied on gamers to counter-terrorism. >> tony, the concern that the agency had that terrorists could communicate, transfer funds or plan attacks via these types of games. and we are talking about very popular ones out there. this is second life. let me show you, let's see if we can get a full screen of this one. you can basically set up after avatars, i went into this one, which is some sort of medieval place. and then you can walk around, you can look at other characteristics that may be in the same world as you are. you can also buy things using their currency which is the lyndon dollar. and then that currency can be convertto u.s. dollars. there is -- converted to u.s. dollars. a document which i

tech giants, including google, microsoft and facebook-- wrote an open letter to the president calling reforms. it said the n.s.a.'s aggressive surveillance was trampling on individual rights and was damaging their companies' business prospects overseas. the president has two panels now reviewing n.s.a. policy, with their reports and recommendations expected by year's end. one of the lawmakers most well- versed in these programs is michigan republican congressman and former f.b.i. agent mike rogers, chairman of the house intelligence committee. i spoke with him last night in his office. chairman rogers, thanks for joining us. >> thanks for having me. >> warner: as you know the president is reviewing surveillance policy o changes are going to happen coming out later this month. if he were seeking your counsel, what is the most profound thing you think he needs to address? >> part of the problem with where we're at is that we're fighting perception about what people think is happening versus what's actually happening. and so that's been our biggest challenge on the education piece. so i