>>> the FBI decided to withdraw the letter. In other words, it dropped the matter voluntarily....That might sound like an acceptable outcome.
No. Because it means they're still pulling these stunts.
Microsoft has successfully challenged a secret letter from the Federal Bureau of Investigation ordering it to turn over data from one of its Office 365 customers, court documents made public on Thursday have revealed. The documents, which remained secret until they were unsealed by the US District Court in Seattle on Wednesday …
First of all, I'd call this news bit manufactured to make people think we're not as far into an Orwellian future as we really are.
Second, its Microsoft needing to shore up its crappy reputation.
Since when would upper layers of the pyramid fight each other? Microsoft protecting its corporate cronies sounds plausible, but is utterly unneccesary: Its one big club and the likes of NSA, CIA, FBI generally work at their behest.
Sure, if someone leans too far out of the window, they might get slapped or shot down and then publicized to keep up appearances.
.
Will this get more people to buy into subscription software? I hope not. Might as well ask the NSA to back up your data.
Duh, they withdrew the case because they don't want a precedent-setting judgement ruling the whole thing unconstitutional.
They can keep trying NSLs thinking that most people will roll over, and backing off when they don't, but then more people will fight them and they're doomed anyway. Just give this shit up, FBI.
I came to comments to post pretty much exactly this.
Unfortunately now that they exist it will probably be near impossible to get NSLs actually removed from law but that doesn't mean they can't be fought and either beaten or their issuers forced to back off at every attempt as in this case.
Being a Brit my feelings towards the USA are wide and varied (and often negative) but one thing you do have to love is the written constitution that largely supersedes and outweighs any other laws, and due to the reverence in which it is held by the nation, is rather difficult to amend protections out of.
Stuff the individuals, companies get the protection
"... Smith says Microsoft is willing to go to bat in the courts for its "business and government" customers – and he narrows that down even further later in his post... "
Individuals and the unwashed masses could be committing terrible crimes, threatening and exploiting their way through their lives and causing untold harm, pain and sorrow. Companies would never do something like that, this is why they get protection.