Microsoft Sues The United States Government
Microsoft Corporation has decided to sue the United States government for unlawful use of data.
It was reported that Microsoft claims that the U.S. government violated some constitutional rights after monitoring several emails of customers. Apparently, Microsoft was prevented from notifying their customers regarding the government's request to search through their emails, as well as other documents.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit was filed last week in Seattle, arguing that the government was violating the fourth amendment. This amendment ensured the right of people and businesses to be aware when the government searches through their property.
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Aside from the fourth amendment, Microsoft argued that the government also violated the First Amendment since they are not allowing Microsoft to tell their customers that they knew about the government's pursuit regarding their emails.
According to the file, the government had issued 5,624 legal orders, wherein 2,576 of them required Microsoft to refrain from telling customers about what the government was doing. It was said the Microsoft's suit intended to put focus on the data storage through remote services and how it has allowed the government to access the electronic data.
The law suit read, "People do not give up their rights when they move their private information from physical storage to the cloud. The government has exploited the transition to cloud computing as a means of expanding its power to conduct secret investigations."
While the file is currently being reviewed by the Department of Justice, the suit was said to reflect the current battle between technology companies and the United States government. Microsoft's Chief Legal Officer, Brad Smith, explained that other large technology companies are also in support of the suit.
Smith stated in a phone interview with Reuters, "Just as Apple was the company in the last case and we stood with Apple, we expect other tech companies to stand with us."
