Facebook Patented Making NSA Data Handoffs Easier

theodp writes "In June, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg blasted 'outrageous press reports' about the PRISM surveillance program, denying that Facebook was ever 'part of any program to give the U.S. or any other government direct access to our servers.' What Zuckerberg didn't mention, and what the press overlooked, is that the USPTO granted Facebook a patent in May for its Automated Writ Response System. Like the NSA-enabling systems described by the NY Times on the same day Zuckerberg cried foul, the patent covers technical methods to more efficiently share the personal data of users with law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in response to lawful government requests via APIs and secured portals installed at company-controlled locations. 'While handing over data in response to a legitimate FISA request is a legal requirement,' the Times noted, 'making it easier for the government to get the information is not, which is why Twitter could decline to do so.'"

Comments

Re:At least now we know the real Mark Zuckerberg .

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah. Before this, no one knew that Mark Zuckerberg was a liar and not to be trusted. I'm sure glad this happened so we could finally see him for what he really is.

This is good news for other services

[Chrisq]

Yes, we'd love to be more cooperative, but I'm afraid that we don't have the patent rights ....

I have prior art ....

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry Facebook, I have prior art on the "automated writ response system", which I wrote 30 years ago:

10 PRINT "Fuck off"
20 GOTO 10

Re:Solution

[erikkemperman]

Don't worry -- at least half a dozen of your friends are working hard to make sure you are not forgotten (posting and tagging fotos, marking "I know this person from..." questions, etc.)

Solution : don't have friend ;).

Faraway cage?