Controversy flares as Condoleezza Rice joins Dropbox board --- The appointment of ex-US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the board of technology firm Dropbox is being criticised by some service users. -- Protests on social media say she is a controversial figure after revelations of widespread wiretapping on US citizens during her time in office. -- A petition has been launched inviting supporters to boycott the firm. -- However some analysts claim the bigger concerns for the file-sharing company are competing services. -- Following the launch of Mailbox for Android and the wider implementation of Dropbox for Business, the company also announced the addition of Condoleezza Rice as a new board member. --- Ms Rice, who served as former President George W Bush's Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009 and National Security Adviser 2001 - 2005, was appointed by the company to expand its global footprint, according to its official blog. -- However, this has been condemned by some Dropbox users who have launched a campaign. -- Voicing concerns on social media, some have said it is inappropriate for the file-sharing company to hire Ms Rice, accusing her of being involved in widespread wiretapping during her time in office. --- Those pressing Dropbox to revoke Ms Rice's appointment are using the hashtag #DropDropbox in an attempt to boycott the company. A petition has also been created which amassed approximately 3,000 signatures in its first few hours. -- Another site said: "This is deeply disturbing, and anyone - or any business - who values ethics should be concerned," before listing a number of Dropbox alternatives for those who wish to boycott the company. -- It also says Ms Rice should not hold power at Dropbox because of her role in the Iraq war. --- However, Chris Green, Principal Technology Analyst of Davies Murphy Group, told the BBC that most users probably wouldn't be concerned over Ms Rice's appointment. -- "The vast majority of the company's 275 million users are unlikely to be swayed or concerned by the short-term negative PR that Condoleezza Rice's appointment is generating for Dropbox," he said. -- "The backlash is fuelled far more by pent-up anger at the administration she served in than a genuine concern for the security of Dropbox users' data. -- The bigger concern for Dropbox, says Mr Green, is the growing competition it faces, which includes big names such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon. -- All of them "are offering competing services with either more free storage or more compelling commercial packages than Dropbox offers." -- The company has yet to release an official statement addressing the backlash, but a recent Dropbox blog post said: "We're honoured to be adding someone as brilliant and accomplished as Ms Rice to our team." - BBC, at: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26987980