Microsoft is a hero -- defies US Government, held in contempt of court
By respecting the law and following the rules, you should live a relatively calm life. However, not all laws and rules are just, and heroes are not born from serenity. As a loyal citizen of the United States, I grew up being told stories of the revolutionary war. Had colonists followed the rules and obeyed all British laws, the USA would likely never exist. You see, sometimes it is necessary to take a stand against the status quo. After all, if we all bury our heads in the sand, positive change will never happen.
The latest American hero is an unlikely one -- a corporation named Microsoft. While it is odd to call a company a hero, from a security and privacy standpoint, it is justified. While not on the same level as a fireman, police officer or the troops, Microsoft is taking a risk and standing up to the US government to fight for what it thinks is right. As a result, the company has been held in contempt of court.
If you aren't familiar, the US Government has been trying to compel Microsoft to hand over user data that is held offshore. "Microsoft believes you own your email no matter where it is stored. That's why we've gone to court to ask the U.S. government to follow long-established, internationally agreed upon processes to obtain email it is seeking as evidence in a case involving a customer account in Ireland", says Microsoft.
The company further explains, "a district judge in New York today issued an order clearing the way for Microsoft to pursue its case against the U.S. government on appeal. The government has demanded that Microsoft turn over customer emails held in its data center in Dublin, Ireland. While the order today holds the company in contempt for not complying with the court's previous ruling to turn over the emails in question, it does not impose any sanctions while the case proceeds to the appellate court, as agreed to by the parties".
Microsoft being held in contempt is mostly bureaucratic symbolism. In other words, Satya Nadella is not being thrown into a jail cell and there is no Law and Order-like drama. Instead, Microsoft is simply being given some breathing room and the ability to appeal. Still, Microsoft deserves applause for protecting its users. While some may claim Microsoft is only doing this to counteract the negative press it got from the Snowden-fueled NSA scandal, and maybe it is, the motive is inconsequential. The end result will hopefully carry the most weight.
You can read the full contempt order here (PDF).
Do you think Microsoft is a hero? Tell me in the comments.
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