Apple, Facebook, others defy authorities, notify users of secret data demands

[Kevin_Kennedy]

Major U.S. technology companies have largely ended the practice of quietly complying with investigators’ demands for e-mail records and other online data, saying that users have a right to know in advance when their information is targeted for government seizure.

This increasingly defiant industry stand is giving some of the tens of thousands of Americans whose Internet data gets swept into criminal investigations each year the opportunity to fight in court to prevent disclosures. Prosecutors, however, warn that tech companies may undermine cases by tipping off criminals, giving them time to destroy vital electronic evidence before it can be gathered.

Fueling the shift is the industry’s eagerness to distance itself from the government after last year’s disclosures about National Security Agency surveillance of online services. Apple, Microsoft, Facebook and Google all are updating their policies to expand routine notification of users about government data seizures, unless specifically gagged by a judge or other legal authority, officials at all four companies said. Yahoo announced similar changes in July.

Apple, Facebook, others defy authorities, increasingly notify users of secret data demands after Snowden revelations - The Washington Post

This is a beautiful example of how the market can force companies to change their bad behavior. The people who use Apple, Google, and Facebook products and services were disgusted to learn that these companies simply handed over information to the government and demanded that they stop. Now these companies are going to great lengths to protect their users' data from the government they once aided and abetted.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

I'd have more respect for them had they come public about this when first approached. It shouldn't have taken a media leak to bring this to light.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

I'd have more respect for them had they come public about this when first approached. It shouldn't have taken a media leak to bring this to light.

Agreed. I'm certainly not saying that these are the most trustworthy of institutions, but forcing them to change their ways is a big step in the right direction. There's no way these policies get changed without push-back from huge companies like these ones.