[a_imho]

Google was requested large amounts of data by the NSA since ~2007 [1]. They were might or might not ordered to keep silent about it. They only started to address it as a reaction to the Snowden revelations. Additionally, there are letters such as linked above that show they are in fact very friendly with the NSA. One can argue they were caught red handed with little to nothing like an email here and there, but circumstantial evidence shows otherwise.

Personally I would go further, those multi billion dollar companies should have found a way to speak up if a contractor was able to, not just after the fact.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRISM_%28surveillance_program%...