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Microsoft and Google Challenge US Government Gag Orders

Posted by timothy on from the infinite-gagging dept.

First time accepted submitter ace37 writes "Microsoft says it plans to move ahead with a lawsuit filed against the U.S. government in June to affirm the right of businesses to disclose limited information about government demands for data made under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). In separate legal filings, Microsoft and Google challenged the gag order that typically accompanies FISA demands for customer data. The two companies asserted that they have a First Amendment right to publish the total number of FISA requests received and the total number of user accounts covered by such requests."

6 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. Here's hoping... by static0verdrive · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This type of lawsuit can help regain some of the liberties the government has taken away, or at least some of the transparency. #WishfulThinking

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  2. Good for the goose... by mschaffer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why can't MS and Google publish "metadata" on the number of FISA requests and number of accounts requested?
    If it is good for the goose, it's good for the gander.

    1. Re:Good for the goose... by cookYourDog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Like when NSA letter was delivered, who delivered it, the 5 closest contacts of the deliverer, and deliverer's favorite TV series?

  3. Thank you Edward Snowden by Alain+Williams · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am not saying that this would not have happened without his revelations, but I suspect that the feelings of antipathy that he has helped to stir up about the NSA & government spying have given companies more courage in pushing harder to challenge these things. Maybe for fear of loosing users if they are seen to cave in too easily, maybe because they really do want to do the right thing and feel that the tide might turn and make the effort worth while.

  4. Just these two companies? by wjcofkc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I can think of more than a few other very large companies, who through the nature of the business they conduct, should be joining Microsoft and Google. This is a good start, but it would be nice to see a whole bunch of companies gang up on the government over this. It might also help the little guys stand up.

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  5. Re:Too little, too late... by kqs · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Google, at least, has been fighting this for a while. Probably Microsoft too.

    You know, I often wonder why companies like Google even bother fighting for our privacy, when people like you are happy to whine and complain about them without looking into the facts. Why do they bother fighting the good fight when they know that no matter what they do, they'll be blamed and hated. Just think, your ignorance is helping the NSA and hurting Google and Microsoft. Bet you feel mighty proud.

    The solution, as always, is knowledge. Know who to support. Know who to vote for. Know what to write your congresscritters. Learn, and always assume that there is something you don't know so you have to learn more, and look behind the curtains.