Microsoft and Google sue US government over NSA gag order
Microsoft and Google may sue US government to allow them to publish user data request from the government after talks with the Justice Department stalled.
The tech giants filed suits in a US federal court in June, arguing a right to make public more information about user data requests made under the auspices of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The technology giants agreed six times to extend the deadline for the government to respond to the lawsuits, the Microsoft's general counsel, Brad Smith, wrote in a blog post.
"With the failure of our recent negotiations, we will move forward with litigation in the hope that the courts will uphold our right to speak more freely," he posted on the blog. "To followers of technology issues, there are many days when Microsoft and Google stand apart," Smith said. "But today our two companies stand together... We believe we have a clear right under the US Constitution to share more information with the public."
