Last week saw another win for tech companies doing battle against the United States government.
The Car Sex (2021) Uncut HootzyChannel Hindi Short FilmDepartment of Justice issued new guidelines last week that now require government officials to make specific requests whenever they want to keep an investigation private. Under the new guidelines, officials also won't be allowed to ask for more than a 12-month delay in notifying customers, except in "exceptional circumstances."
That said, DOJ officials seeking customer data will still be able to hide their requests from specific customers if they believe those customers might delete data once they know the feds are onto them, or if the customer might bolt to avoid legal action.
SEE ALSO: Tech Companies Reveal National Security Data RequestsStill, the decision is something of a victory for tech companies and customers interested in transparency: Tech companies that store customer data have long been legally told to stay silent in many cases where federal law enforcement request that information.
The win comes on the backs of Microsoft. The company sued the DOJ last year, arguing that government searches of data violated customers' Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable search and seizure. Microsoft's lawyers also argued their own First Amendment rights were violated by the gag orders that prevented them from notifying customers that government officials were looking through their data.
The government issued 2,576 "legal demands" to Microsoft that "included an obligation of secrecy" over a period of 18 months, according to a company statement put out by Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith. Of those demands, 68 percent "appeared to be indefinite demands for secrecy."
"In short," Smith wrote, "we were prevented from ever telling a large number of customers that the government had sought to access their data."
The company is now "taking steps" to halt its lawsuit because of the new DOJ guidelines, but Smith emphasized the need for legislation preventing long-term gag orders, rather than relying on DOJ guidelines. He pushed Congress to pass the ECPA Modernization Act of 2017, which would prevent officials from sticking tech companies with anything longer than a 90-day gag order unless the government asks for a renewal.
The tussle between Microsoft and the DOJ is just the latest in an ongoing series of tech companies battling the government over issues of privacy.
The DOJ recently had to significantly alter a broad warrant that sought data from 1.3 million IP addresses of visitors to DisruptJ20.org, an organizing point for people who protested the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
Perhaps more famously (or infamously), the FBI and Apple had a public spat over whether Apple should be compelled to provide law enforcement with access to the iPhone of a perpetrator behind a December 2015 shooting spree in San Bernardino, California. Apple argued that to do so would undermine the privacy of all its customers.
Topics Apple Microsoft
Experts say the time is right for Twitter employees to unionizeTaco Bell menu items, rankedElon Musk buys Twitter: Here's what we knowFacebook is giving up on podcastsSnapchat debuts a camera drone called PixyExperts say the time is right for Twitter employees to unionizeTwitter roasts a poster of an 'edgy' Ted CruzWhat is digital redlining, and how is Facebook involved?Good dog wins over the hearts of college football fans'Wordle' today: Here's the answer, hints for May 3'Wordle' today: Here's the answer, hints for May 1'The Offer' review: An indulgent look at the making of 'The Godfather'Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for April 26Elon Musk buys Twitter: Here's what we knowYes, people are losing followers on Twitter, but it's 'organic'Most watched movies on your favorite streaming services this week. Batman's in 2.13 photos of the Trump boys that prove they're just like daddyDonald Trump apparently thought the American flag has blue stripesMost watched TV shows streaming this week. Yes, including 'Better Call Saul'.Celebrities defend 'Cosby Show' star Geoffrey Owens, shamed for day job Devastating photos show the wrath of largest wildfire in Los Angeles County history Girl casually finds 'Excalibur' at the bottom of the same lake where it was hurled This might be the worst UPS package placement ever The reviews for 'mother!' are in and WTF?! This fearless artist was lifted by 20,000 balloons for 9 hours Verizon will now trade you your personal data for ... concert tickets Australia is so dangerous that cartoons can't teach kids not to be afraid of spiders 'Overwatch' highest 'Knack' was so lame, people can't believe 'Knack 2' is actually decent YouTube speeds up live streaming for creators with 'ultra Grandma's 'Game of Thrones' costume would make Olenna Tyrell proud China bans ICOs for being full of fraud and pyramid schemes Here's how to track Hurricane Irma People are desperate for air conditioning as San Francisco deals with record heat This electric air taxi is one step closer to making your commute suck a whole lot less This Whole Foods map of French cheese is a crime against dairy Paul Bettany would make a great 'Star Wars' space pirate, FWIW Nintendo posts 'Star Fox 2' manual online 9 things that will 100% maybe happen in 'Game of Thrones' Season 8 Mark Zuckerberg on DACA repeal: 'This is a sad day for our country'
3.0515s , 8225.0625 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Car Sex (2021) Uncut HootzyChannel Hindi Short Film】,Fresh Information Network