Twitter Files Suit over National Security Data

Twitter Files Suit over National Security Data

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Oct 09, 2014

Social media giant Twitter Files Suit over National Security DataTwitter is stepping up, challenging a tangled web of gag orders and secrecy rules by filing suit against the Justice Department. Twitter feels that their First Amendment right has been violated with restrictions forbidding them to disclose the number of national security letters and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court orders it receives. Even if that number happens to be zero, Twitter is currently not allowed to report this.

Obviously, Twitter receives national security-related requests for user data or they wouldn’t be making such a big deal about not being able to report the actual numbers. Instead, they must report in broad ranges.

Ben Lee, Twitter vice president, hopes the outcome of the hearing is that Twitter will be able to publish the full version of a transparency report prepared this year, including the now forbidden details. He believes that Twitter should be entitled, under the First Amendment, to respond to their users’ concerns about the scope of U.S. government surveillance.

People who are against what Twitter is doing say that national security could be at risk if data such as this is published, while supporters of Twitter say that the government should not be allowed to prohibit the publication of truthful speech about government actions.

What about you, readers? Do you support Twitter’s lawsuit or do you think they should not be able to publicly report this data in the name of national security?

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.