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from the wait-until-they-change-their-policy-again dept.
Microsoft has dropped its lawsuit against the Department of Justice now that the DoJ has ended its policy of sending "gag orders" to companies that receive legal demands for user data:
"This new policy limits the overused practice of requiring providers to stay silent when the government accesses personal data stored in the cloud," explains Brad Smith, Microsoft's chief legal officer. "It helps ensure that secrecy orders are used only when necessary and for defined periods of time. This is an important step for both privacy and free expression. It is an unequivocal win for our customers, and we're pleased the DOJ has taken these steps to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans."
The new policy will limit the use of secrecy orders, and set defined periods for them. Microsoft says the new policy will "make sure that every application for a secrecy order is carefully and specifically tailored to the facts in the case." While Microsoft has convinced the DOJ to change its policy, it's now putting the pressure on Congress to act. "Today's policy doesn't address all of the problems with the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)," says Smith. "We renew our call on Congress to amend it."
Also at Ars Technica, Bloomberg, and TechCrunch.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by stretch611 on Wednesday October 25 2017, @12:20PM (1 child)
How long until they change the policy back.
There is no telling how much it will be limited if they refuse to allow companies to discuss how often it was used before. If you were not allowed to say how many you received in the past, and still can't say how many you receive now, how can you know if they changed? (yes, a company can tell how many it gets, but it can't tell if the government changes as a whole.)
Urging congress to be more open won't help either. Eroding away the rights of the masses is something that both parties agree on.
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday October 25 2017, @05:00PM
> How long until they change the policy back.
Let me check the latest Mass Shooting And Terrorism Forecast ...
Two whites ... Five blacks ... Three whites ... There! One muslim guy, just before thanksgiving! You've got a month, give or take.