Microsoft

Microsoft ordered to hand over customer email data stored in overseas data centers

posted by Maxwell R.

Aug 05, 2014, 4:43 AM

Microsoft ordered to hand over customer email data stored in overseas data centers

Microsoft has been battling an issue in court over whether to hand over customer email data and content that is stored in an overseas data center. At issue was whether the United States government had the authority to issue warrants on data that resided outside the country.

The initial dispute ruled in favor of the government back in April and Microsoft appealed on the ground that it amounted to unreasonable search and seizure, and the government has no authority to issue warrants that deal with overseas operations, in this case, Ireland.

Microsoft argued that US should work through its partner government legal channels to get the data locally, whether bound by treaty or a simple request for assistance. US District Court Judge Loretta Preska upheld the April ruling in favor of the government’s warrant.

The issue was important enough that a bunch of other tech companies filed briefs to the court on Microsoft’s behalf. AT&T, Verizon, Cisco, Apple, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, all made legal arguments supporting Microsoft’s position.

Not only are these companies worried about losing control of data that may have no relevance on US soil, but the ruling may run counter to trends that have been emerging in the European Union and measures being made there to increase privacy protection.

Microsoft stated that it will appeal this ruling. Judges across the United States are fairly evenly split on issues like this, so Microsoft’s 0-for-2 record at this point means little. Because there is no consensus or case law that tilts this issue in one direction or another, do not expect privacy issues like this to be settled in the foreseeable future.

source: Industry Leaders

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17 Comments

13. Augustine

Posts: 1043; Member since: Sep 28, 2013

Of course that a federal court, a branch of the federal government, would agree that the US are an empire with universal jurisdiction and that other states are not sovereign, but merely vassal states in the American world fiefdom.

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 9:57 AM 0

8. wax33

Posts: 45; Member since: Apr 06, 2014

LOL. So the Europeans pass some laws to keep the private data of Europeans in Europe and not have it transferred overseas. The US orders Microsoft & Co. to give them the private data of Europeans (stored in Europe). Another loss for the "European allies".

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 5:50 AM 0

9. sip1995

Posts: 1771; Member since: Feb 07, 2014

I guess someone wants to destroy Europe...

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 6:15 AM 0

12. Augustine

Or rather, to destroy American companies. Data has been stored locally in order to assure customers that the imperial US would not violate their privacy, even when local laws didn't mandate this. Now, much as is happening all over the world, American companies are being discarded from new contracts and old contracts not being renewed because they are regarded as proxies for the fascists in Washington, blue or red or whatever color happens to be the facade of the congressional-military-mediatic-industrial complex.

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 9:53 AM 0

1. Alex123

Posts: 241; Member since: Oct 17, 2012

Guys, i have a shock news regarding my Lumia 925 reported by CNET that it's one of the most highest radiation cellphone among 20 phones. Do you know whether it's to be trusted or not? Thanks for your answer.

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 4:56 AM 0

2. AeroPrime

Posts: 175; Member since: Feb 21, 2011

CNET loves apple why do u even bother visiting CNET. Ever since I know about it . I stop visiting CNET or even read their news. 925 is fine I don't see people going bald.

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 5:06 AM 3

4. Alex123

Great and thanks a lot. I have no problem with my 925 so far. I know that CNET is an apple fan but i have to be sure since it mentioned that those phone with highest radiation will cause user a cancer.

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 5:12 AM 0

6. juandante

Posts: 679; Member since: Apr 23, 2013

and why people should trust aeroprime ? (aero is the name of again microsoft windows vista's theme)

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 5:17 AM 0

14. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

I stop going to CNET cause they love apple so much. they give bad reviews on every single phone that's out there. engadget is another site that love apple also. Used to read CNET alot back in 04' before their beloved iPhone launch. so now this site will be the last one I'll be reading. iBGR is another site I will avoid.

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 11:49 AM 0

3. sip1995

Never go to CNET again (they're fools), trust me, it's for your own good

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 5:10 AM 4

5. Alex123

Thanks for your advice :). I would not take CNET too seriously

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 5:15 AM 2

11. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

bgr.com is another one of them, its basically an extension of Apple parading as a legitimate unbiased tech site.

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 6:50 AM 1

7. Dr.Phil

Posts: 2578; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

While CNET may or may not be an unbiased news source, they are correct on this one. The Lumia 925 is one of the top 20 highest SAR rated phones according to our own FCC. http://cellphones.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=003054

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 5:41 AM 2

15. Alex123

If they are correct, I think those phones should have been banned but they are still selling - that's what I thought CNET is an untrusted source. Thank you anyway.

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 6:37 PM 0

10. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Its only kill off a small amount of people like less than 2% so i think its should ok. No worries. Hehehe..

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 6:46 AM 0

16. hurrycanger

Posts: 1778; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

lmao.

posted on Aug 05, 2014, 8:31 PM 0

18. Penny

Posts: 1882; Member since: Feb 04, 2011

No smartphones are absolutely safe in terms of radiation. A neurosurgeon I know always uses his phone approximately 1-2 inches away from his ear, and recommended I do the same. Dude deals with the brain, probably knows something.