Microsoft Suing Government for Secret Searches

Microsoft Suing Government for Secret Searches

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Apr 15, 2016

Microsoft is taking a stand against the U.S. Department of Justice. On April 14, the company filed a lawsuit against the DOJ stating they were not comfortable with the way that federal agents routinely search customers’ personal information in secret.

Microsoft has accused the federal government of adopting a “widespread, unconstitutional policy” of looking through personal data on Microsoft’s network and forcing the company to be quiet about it.

The company explained that over the past 18 months, federal judges have approved 2,600 secret searches of Microsoft customers and in two-thirds of those cases, the company was told they could not notify their customers that they’ve been searched for. This clause usually last forever because there is no expiration data on the judicial orders. The company cannot even go back and tell a customer, “In 2014, the federal government used our resources to check up on you.”

The lawsuit states that Microsoft believes their customers have a right to know when the government obtains a warrant to read their emails, and because Microsoft has a right to tell them.

The issue with this case is the double standard that comes along with the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Normally, a person must be told when police obtain warrant to search a home, but nowadays, people keep lots of emails, notes, contact lists, and pictures on computer servers at Microsoft and elsewhere. Under the 1986 law, police can get special permission to search those computers and keep the company from informing the customer when law enforcement has conducted the secret search.

The federal agents, however, argue that the secrecy of the search is what helps them in their investigation. Microsoft counted with the argument that they still aren’t able to inform a customer even long after the investigation is over.

Despite the fact the lawsuit comes as the encryption battle between the FBI and Apple finds a resting spot, it show that data privacy is still a large part of the conversation between tech companies and the government.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”