Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Google co-founder Larry Page have responded to media reports on the Internet surveillance program PRISM. Both deny having any knowledge of the program before yesterday and say that they have given no one "direct access to our servers."

A top-secret document obtained by The Washington Post describes Facebook and Google as corporate partners in a program that allows the National Security Agency and the FBI to track foreign targets by collecting data directly from Internet companies' servers.

Several companies named in the document have denied involvement in PRISM.

"It is possible that the conflict between the PRISM slides and the company spokesmen is the result of imprecision on the part of the NSA author," authors Barton Gellman and Laura Poitras explain. "In another classified report obtained by The Post, the arrangement is described as allowing 'collection managers [to send] content tasking instructions directly to equipment installed at company-controlled locations,' rather than directly to company servers."

Zuckerberg's full statement:

Facebook is not and has never been part of any program to give the US or any other government direct access to our servers. We have never received a blanket request or court order from any government agency asking for information or metadata in bulk, like the one Verizon reportedly received. And if we did, we would fight it aggressively. We hadn't even heard of PRISM before yesterday. When governments ask Facebook for data, we review each request carefully to make sure they always follow the correct processes and all applicable laws, and then only provide the information if is required by law. We will continue fighting aggressively to keep your information safe and secure. We strongly encourage all governments to be much more transparent about all programs aimed at keeping the public safe. It's the only way to protect everyone's civil liberties and create the safe and free society we all want over the long term.

And Page's: