Microsoft is heading to the court to battle the U.S. Department of Justice to protect a user’s data stored in the Irish data centers. The company calls it a threat to privacy and international sovereignty.
While Microsoft is being targeted for stealing the user data with the newWindows 10 OS, the company is once again returning to the court to continue its battle with the US government. The company is resisting the demand that it should hand over some emails stored at a data center in Ireland.
The emails involved belong to an alleged crime suspect. In the past two judgments, Redmond has faced defeats in the lower courts. For the third time, the company is challenging the US government in the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit.
Microsoft said that it is fighting this case on behalf of everyone and calls this a fight to protect the fundamental right to privacy and international sovereignty. However, the US Department of Justice says that it’s necessary to access the data stored in foreign data centers as it would be helpful in the prosecution of criminals.
Microsoft has showed off letters of support from the likes of Apple, Amazon, HP, AT&T, Verizon and others. Also, Microsoft has the Irish government on its side. It’s being seen as a move to retain the trust of the customers who keep complaining that the tech companies and governments is sniffing their activities and data.
These emails were first sought in 2013 and the judge will be deciding their fate very soon.
The hearing will take place today and we’ll keep you updated.
What are your thoughts? Should the government be allowed to access the user data stored in overseas data centers?