No to data storage in Saudi Arabia: Access Now, CIPPIC flag human rights concerns

 Access Now and the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) have called for Google to halt its plan to store Snapchat data on servers based in Saudi Arabia given the country’s human rights record. In open letters sent to Google and Snap Inc., Access Now and the CIPPIC raised concerns that this might render Snapchat users’ personal data under the controversial jurisdiction of the Saudi government and requested both companies address questions vis-à-vis due diligence, user data, security measures, legal standards, and government access. In response, Google clarified that ‘an independent human rights assessment was conducted for the Google Cloud Region in Saudi Arabia, and Google took steps to address matters identified as part of that review.’