14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft continues its fight against the United States government and its request to provide access to user data stored overseas with a new effort that brings full-page ads in this week’s US newspapers.
As reported by The Hill, Microsoft is running ads in weekly newspapers Rehoboth Beach, Del., Martha’s Vineyard and North Carolina’s Outer Banks, explaining that the government wants the company to share user data even though the information is located in non-US data centers.
At the same time, the company launched a new website to support its cause, explaining that “Microsoft is taking a stand for privacy” and pointing to statistics confirming that American voters agree with its point of view.
“We believe your email belongs to you, not us, no matter where it is stored. The government, however, contends that your email no longer belongs just to you when it’s stored in the cloud, but also becomes a ‘business record’ of the email provider you use. Why is that a problem? Because unlike email and other personal communications, business records have a lower level of legal protection,” the company says on the website.
A couple of months ago, Microsoft revealed that the United States government asked for user information stored on a data center in Ireland, but the company refused to comply with the requirements amid claims that a US search warrant is only valid within the country.
A US judge however ruled that the United States government must be provided with access to foreign data centers as long as they are operated by American companies, but offered Microsoft the option to appeal the decision and thus continue the fight for user privacy.
Microsoft says on the new website that it already has the backing of companies and privacy advocates, calling for new rules that would better protect user privacy and thus block the United States government from accessing data that’s not stored in the country.
Such a case could lead to similar requests in other countries, Microsoft warned, explaining that other governments might also ask the company to provide access to user details even though these aren’t stored locally. In the end, this could harm Microsoft’s business and raise questions regarding users’ privacy, it said.
“If the U.S. government prevails in reaching into other countries’ data centers, other governments are sure to follow. One already is. Earlier this month the British government passed a law asserting its right to require tech companies to produce emails stored anywhere in the world. This would include emails stored in the U.S. by Americans who have never been to the U.K.,” Microsoft noted.