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Supreme Court Wrestles With Microsoft Data Privacy Fight (reuters.com)
Supreme Court justices on Tuesday wrestled with Microsoft's dispute with the U.S. Justice Department over whether prosecutors can force technology companies to hand over data stored overseas, with some signaling support for the government and others urging Congress to pass a law to resolve the issue. From a report: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, both conservatives, hinted during an hour-long argument in the case at support for the Justice Department's stance that because Microsoft is based in the United States it was obligated to turn over data sought by prosecutors in a U.S. warrant. As the nine justices grappled with the technological complexities of email data storage, liberals Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor questioned whether the court needed to act in the data privacy case in light of Congress now considering bipartisan legislation that would resolve the legal issue. A ruling is due by the end of June.
If the US basically tries to assert that their laws trump the national laws in which these US companies operate, then those US companies will pretty much lose business.
The only logical conclusion would be that MS is now effectively an agent of the US government, and the use of their cloud stuff would be illegal in other countries or for certain kinds of data.
AND, this would be reciprocal, as MS would have no choice but to hand over data on US citizens to those local governments.
Don't give me the bullshit answer that it's OK for the US but not for anybody else, because we don't give a fuck.
So good luck when Iran wants to subpoena US records from MS. This is basically setting up a scenario in which the US wants their laws to be extraterritorial, in which case everyone else gets to do it.
Sorry, America, but you can't have it both ways.
Could it not be argued that it is Microsoft Europe, Microsoft Europe is a European company, and it must adhere to European laws?
Assuming there is indeed a European entity.
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
Microsoft owns that data, thus it is Microsoft property, and since Microsoft is an american citizen, it must adhere to American laws.
Yes, but any American citizen in Europe must obey European laws. If you happen to be a holocaust denier and get arrested in Germany explaining about the US constitution's protections on free speech will get you nowhere.US companies have the choice not to go to Europe but, if they do, they must follow the law there. European law says that Microsoft cannot hand the data over to foreign (US) authorities. There is no law that the US Congress can pass that can relieve them of this responsibility and, if the US forces MS to hand over the data, it will make it close to impossible for US companies to do business in Europe since they will be unable to follow the law and so be liable for financial and possibly criminal penalties.
Microsoft owns that data, thus it is Microsoft property, and since Microsoft is an american citizen, it must adhere to American laws.
It's not complicated.
No it is not complicated. American law does not apply outside American territory, period.
If an American company owned elephants in India, and Indian law said that exports of elephants was illegal, should an American judge be able to decide that they must ship their elephants to the US? Does not Indian law apply on Indian soil because it's an American company?
Yeah, this case is basically the U.S. version of the German cases requiring search engines to strike Nazi results worldwide, and French cases requiring websites abroad to block content deemed illegal in France.
It's one of those situations where you only see the advantages if you consider only yourself (your country). But the disadvantages become obvious when you consider the world as a whole. e.g. "What if you could have sex with anyone who wanted?" Most people think that would be fantastic. "What if anyone could have sex with you?" Suddenly it doesn't seem like such a great idea.
The only decision which makes sense if you want to preserve the integrity of national borders is that U.S. law stops at the U.S. border, German law stops at the German border, French law stops at France's border. If the U.S. wants to get its hands on information Microsoft is storing in Ireland, they should file a request with Irish authorities (similar to an extradition request). Then Ireland can decide whether or not it should honor that request, and legally force Microsoft to turn the info over.
There are lawyers specialising in this game, it's called Conflict of Law and it pays very well.
Rest assured MS has consulted these specialists years ago.
"The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
No it is not complicated. American law does not apply outside American territory, period.
That's simply not true. There is a presumption of non-extraterritoriality in U.S. law which means that if a law doesn't state otherwise, it is presumed to apply only on U.S. soil (or U.S. military bases, etc.), but laws can explicitly state that they apply outside the U.S. and U.S. courts have found them enforceable (usually when a citizen returns to the U.S. after a foreign trip.) Notable examples are the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act which make it a crime to bribe a foreign government. Another example is the Child Protect Act which makes it illegal for American citizens to hire child prostitutes even in countries where the practice is legal (eg. in the Netherlands, 16 years olds can legally work as prostitutes, but if a U.S. citizen hires one while visiting Amsterdam, they can be charged when they return to the U.S.). Another example are violations of certain travel restrictions, such as travel to Cuba, etc. Now, whether or not the search warrant in question is presumed to be non-extraterritorial or not is up to the Supreme Court to decide, but your blanket statement is clearly untrue.
If I can be modded down for being a troll, can I be modded up for being an orc, or a balrog?