The National Security Agency surveillance scandal has been devastating to the U.S. government’s credibility...[on] Internet freedom. But the impact on U.S. technology companies and a fragile American economy may be even greater. Every new revelation suggests far more surveillance...and more involvement by telephone and Internet companies...One of the most troubling aspects...is that foreign nationals abroad have no privacy rights under U.S. law. Foreigners using the services of global companies are fair game...For the Internet companies...their bottom line is at risk because European markets are crucial for them...U.S. spying on Europeans via companies had been a simmering problem since at least 2011...The companies have belatedly distanced themselves from the NSA and called for more transparency...Google has been the most aggressive, including by petitioning the FISA court. Microsoft has followed. Apple, Yahoo and Facebook are starting to report aggregate data in the wake of the NSA fallout. [also refers to BAE Systems]