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TechCrunch is reporting that Microsoft has successfully managed to challenge a National Security Letter (NSL) from the FBI that included a gag order. The gist is simple: according to Microsoft they received an NSL requesting "basic subscriber information" regarding an "enterprise" customer; i.e. the FBI was after the metadata of a large Microsoft client.
As is normal for NSLs, the letter banned Microsoft from disclosing to anyone that the data had been requested. Microsoft didn't think that reasonable and filed a challenge resulting in the FBI retracting its request. What's perhaps more interesting isn't that a single National Security Letter was beaten back, but how Microsoft argued its case which could, in theory, be used by others to defeat other NSLs.
(Score: 1) by Horse With Stripes on Friday May 23 2014, @04:28AM
Is this the first real chink in the armor of these all-powerful National Security Letters?
MS's legal arguments were succinct and effective, and don't appear to be specific to this case. They are directed at the NSL's NDA as well as the scope of the letter in general.
Cross what ever you need to cross. This could be a cornerstone in rebuilding the walls of privacy and freedoms.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 23 2014, @04:39AM
You mean corporate privacy and corporate freedoms.
If you challenge a National Security Letter, the FBI seizes your house and your car and your person until you damn well cooperate with the National Security, worthless peon.