Dropbox says its commitment to privacy and transparency won’t change with Condoleezza Rice on board

Following a public outcry in response to Dropbox’s appointment of Bush-administration veteran Condoleezza Rice to its board of directors, Dropbox has issued a statement from CEO Drew Houston affirming its continued commitment to user privacy, government transparency and surveillance reform.

The firm promised that nothing about its values and principles is going to change, while also noting that it is “honored” to have Rice on board because of her experience with international markets.

Here’s the full statement so you can decide for yourself whether you believe it:

There’s nothing more important to us than keeping your stuff safe and secure. It’s why we’ve been fighting fortransparency and government surveillance reform, and why we’ve been vocal and public with our principles and values.

We should have been clearer that none of this is going to change with Dr. Rice’s appointment to our Board. Our commitment to your rights and your privacy is at the heart of every decision we make, and this will continue.

We’re honored to have Dr. Rice join our board — she brings an incredible amount of experience and insight into international markets and the dynamics that define them. As we continue to expand into new countries, we need that type of insight to help us reach new users and defend their rights. Dr. Rice understands our stance on these issues and fully supports our commitments to our users.

➤ Our commitment to your rights and privacy [Dropbox]

Image credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/GettyImages