By Greg Morcroft - Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is challenging the federal government’s power to demand that the company turn over customers’ email stored at an Irish data center and more companies are expected to align with the company to fight growing federal demands, a report on Wednesday said.
The New York Times reported that in court filings made public on Monday Microsoft argued that if the government’s demands are enforced it, “would violate international law and treaties, and reduce the privacy protection of everyone on the planet.”
Microsoft has already lost one round in the fight after arguing unsuccessfully two months ago, the Times said, adding that foreign search warrants are rare.
The paper quoted Electronic Frontier Foundation lawyer Lee Tien saying, “United States search warrants do not have extraterritorial reach. The government is trying to do an end run.”