Microsoft follows Google’s lead seeking permission to disclose FISA data

Last week, Google filed a motion with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) seeking permission to disclose general data-sets that it argues are not classified in nature and whose disclosure would not jeopardize “the secrecy of any particular…directive that Microsoft might have received.”

As everyone should well know by now, the secret court can issue warrants for data about user accounts and those warrants have gag orders attached to them, preventing the receiving company from even acknowledging the existence of the order to begin with.

Google, Microsoft and others have already been allowed to reveal the existence of National Security Letters (NSLs) they may receive from the FBI under other circumstances, but those do not breach the threshold of private information that might be protected by the 4th Amendment. However, both companies feel that 1st Amendment rights are not being honored

Microsoft used the same line of thinking as Google in its request to the FISC, that the erroneous media reports and the secret nature of the FISA warrants prevented the company from defending itself in the public forum, thus violating its rights. The restriction to disclose such information "would constitute a content-based restriction on speech that fails to satisfy strict scrutiny, in violation of the First Amendment," according to the brief filed by Microsoft.

"The First Amendment does not permit the government to bar Microsoft from speaking about an issue of great importance to its customers, shareholders, and the public while, simultaneously, senior government officials are speaking publicly about the very same subject.”

source: PCMag.com

Grab the Pixel 10 at Mint Mobile for $450 off

$349

$799

$450 off (56%)

Mint Mobile now sells the Google Pixel 10 with a massive $450 discount. The promo is available on select color variants with 128GB of storage. You also get a 12-month unlimited data plan for $180 instead of $360.

Buy at Mint Mobile

Pixel 10 Pro: now $475 off at Mint

$524

$999

$475 off (48%)

Grab the pro-grade, compact Pixel 10 Pro at Mint Mobile with a 12-month unlimited plan, and you can save a huge $475. The data plan comes with a discount, too: 50% off, to be exact.

Buy at Mint Mobile

The Pixel 10 Pro XL is $700 off at Mint right now

$499

$1199

$700 off (58%)

The high-end Gemini AI-enhanced Pixel 10 Pro XL is now available with a mind-blowing discount. You can now save $700 on the phone, plus 50% off unlimited 12-month plans.

Buy at Mint Mobile

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is now $400 off

$1399

$1799

$400 off (22%)

The foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold is another standout holiday offer. Right now, you can get the device for $400 off at Mint Mobile. On top of that, you save $180 on 12-month unlimited data plans.

Buy at Mint Mobile