Apple joins Microsoft in the fight against US government requesting overseas data

June 17, 2014

Microsoft remains on its path to protect consumers against the prying US government and now both Apple and Cisco have joined the cause. The companies, along with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Verizon and AT&T are attempting to prevent the US government from issuing search warrants to demand data not physically stored in the country. Apple and Cisco have filed a joint brief in protest against this practice.

It's not the first time Apple and Microsoft have worked together on the issue. The major drawback with the US government issuing warrants for data stored on servers in other regions (for the tech companies involved) is how agencies are requesting access to extra-national data. Microsoft recently fought against US prosecutors ordering the company to disclose emails stored on servers located in Ireland.

With cloud services becoming more and more utilized by consumers, tech companies are attempting to showcase just how far they're prepared to go to protect user data. It's not good business for European companies and consumers to use storage solutions the US government and its agencies can request data from. This in turn would damage the US tech companies involved in this filing.

It's a fine line as on the other hand, should decisions go in favor of Microsoft and co., fighting organized crime and cyber threats may prove to be more challenging with restricted access on accumulating data from targeted threats. But that's a decision best held by legal personnel involved to reach a point where all parties (including consumers) are satisfied.

Do you feel as though your data is adequately protected and said companies are doing enough?

Source: TechCrunch