The U.S. government gathered data on online messages through a program that's intended to stop terrorism (NSA) but that touches the communications of ordinary Americans. Internet companies already track users and then sell customized digital advertising. But they reacted indignantly after documents leaked by a former NSA contractor said the agency had backdoors at Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft.

The companies said they provided data only as required by federal courts. They tried to mend any public fallout by pressing the Obama administration to curb electronic snooping and to let the companies disclose more information about government requests for their users' online activities.

As criticism to this program grows, big US companies are more aware of the risks associated with it, which include losing business of customers looking for solutions out of the United States’ borders.