Cybersecurity
Microsoft Wins Protection for E-Mails Stored Outside U.S.
- Government warned of loophole in favor of hackers, fraudsters
- Company said a government win would expose data stored in U.S.
Microsoft's Smith on Winning DOJ Suit: It Sends a Message
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Microsoft Corp. won’t be forced to turn over e-mails stored in Ireland to the U.S. government for a drug investigation, an appeals court said in a decision that may affect data security throughout the U.S. technology industry.
The ruling on Thursday overturned a 2014 decision ordering Microsoft to hand over messages of a suspected drug trafficker. The company argued that would create a “global free-for-all” with foreign countries forcing companies to turn over evidence stored in the U.S. The government said a ruling in favor of Microsoft would create legal loophole to be exploited by fraudsters, hackers and drug traffickers.