Microsoft and Google sue the U.S. Govt

So this is pretty crazy. Considering these are two of the largest companies in North America things could be getting interesting over the next few weeks. Here is the full post from IGN:

Back in July, Microsoft and Google were among a number of tech giants who signed on to a coalition movement asking the U.S. government for more transparency when it comes to sharing the private online data of citizens. Today, the two companies have decided to move forward with litigation against the government, asking the courts to uphold their right to "speak more freely."

Image Source: Microsoft

Concerns over how tech and social media companies hand over user data--such as emails--have risen in recent months, due to allegations from NSA leaker Edward Snowden and reports the government is attaining private documents through Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) requests. On Thursday, the U.S. government agreed to release a report listing the total number of such requests once a year. Microsoft and Google are not satisfied with the change.

"The government’s decision represents a good start," writes Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith on the company's policy blog. "But the public deserves and the Constitution guarantees more than this first step."

Microsoft and Google had apparently agreed to six deadline extensions in the talks with government officials, but according to Smith, the negotiations have "ended in failure." Both companies feel they should have the right under the U.S. Constitution to specifically detail what information is being handed over upon the government's request--not just total numbers.

"To followers of technology issues, there are many days when Microsoft and Google stand apart," writes Smith. "But today our two companies stand together." - Source

WHAT THE FUCK, OBAMA!?

@video_game_king: Happy?!

If only we could get legislation passed where Microsoft and Google don't actually own that information.

Transparency.

Transparency.

P.R Bullshit.

Google and MS have always been as bastardy as the US Govt.

Pretend you're not in bed with each other and nothing dodgy is happening and continue with your old practices.

err

I'd really like my personal data to be my property. Even when it's on the 'puter.

I don't know what that would take to make happen but it makes sense to me.

Agreed. This is essentially the U.S. govt pretending to sue itself.

Ugh, THE GOVERMENT KNOWS WHAT I FAP TO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

WAKE UP ANTZ, GET OUT OF THE CLOONEY

So the Yorks go to war against the Lancasters while the peasantry gets fucked from both sides.

The American government was meant to exist at the pleasure of its people, not the opposite.

In other words, "Don't blame us! Blame the government!" This looks like a hell of a PR plan.

If they win, they'll earn some cool millions and the NSA will continue to demand access into their data. If they lose, the NSA will continue to demand access into their data.

Do you know what's weird?

Corporations have human rights.

Maybe, but at least Google and Microsoft are corporations - the government is supposed to be serving you.

Those... peeping Toms! How dare they!

The US Government doesn't have any money so I don't know what they are trying to gain from this.

the government knows what you fap to, and there are awkward anime pictures of 12 year old 'sexy' characters in your cookies from 3 years ago which will get you put in prison for breaking some new child porn law in the future if you are deemed a threat to their control.

also, if you played tera, you are FUCKED

It's not about the money. It's about sending a message.

its about sending a message to the people, trying to give the impression that they arent part of the same evil.

there is an awkward group of wolves clinging onto a dying delusion in microsoft, with the xbox one and now this...

hey guys! it wasn't us! we're still cool and also we totally believe in freedom, and not just getting as much money as we possibly can

BITCOIN IS THE ANSWER

What the hell is wrong with people in this thread? Microsoft and Google are doing what you can't do. They're taking your side against the government, and yet all that you can say is how evil Microsoft is.

So who, exactly, is the big bad evil at Microsoft? Is it their PR department? Their CEO? Or perhaps it's all their employees? What, then, makes them so much more evil than you and me? You all talk such big talk from your proverbial high horse, but are you really that much better than them?

And what, then, if you or someone you know finds employment at these companies you find so evil? Then they must be evil,too, right? After all, the company they went to work for its pure evil and they are now part of that evil.

No, I think, perhaps, that when it comes time to talk of evil, you should look at your own reflection. Because the truth is, while you might talk down about these large corporations, they are doing what you and the rest of the "common people" lack the balls or decency to do. You may speak of what must be done, but when it comes time to do it you will remain silent, too busy with your self preservation and no longer so concerned about your fellow man.

So tell me, who is the real evil?

That's some hilarious flip-flopping from MS and Google's side. They were ok with it as long as the public had no idea, but as soon as the leak happened they were shitting bricks and trying to take it back.

Hilarious.

Windows still hold 90%+ of the PC OS

Android 79.3% of all smartphone, global market share and growing.

They already know all the porn you watch/

I fell like in the following week we will see a lot of people that don't understand the term "publicity stunt".

They have no business ethics and they acted against their client's best interests to aid a government in violating their Constitutional rights.

I'm sorry, is that too difficult to understand?

You all talk such big talk from your proverbial high horse, but are you really that much better than them?

Yes, I have integrity. I can actually follow the Four-Way Test whereas Microsoft fails at least three of four just based on what we publicly know.

At least one person here isn't a complete fuckwit. Thanks.

At least one person here isn't a complete fuckwit. Thanks.

I think everyone here is basically 14 and/or has never actually worked anywhere. So naturally all big corporations and everyone that works for them are evil. Sure makes it easier on the brain when everything is either black or white.

Who the fuck are you people to laugh everything off as "oh no they know which porn i fap to"? Just because we are all worthless basement dwellers here doesnt make it a less questionable practice. I understand that 99.99% of the population will never have that much reach or incentive to make an impact on these dealings of the government and corporations. But please, quit the fucking moronic attidude.

Reading threads sch as these make me sad to have my Political Science degree. So much of what people say here are based in lies and half-truths.

EDIT: I read someone's thread post about "everyone being 14" and while I don't agree with that, I will say there is an incredible amount of arm-chair politics and research I assume is gathered from bringdowntheobama.com

EDIT EDIT: (Not a real website... I don't think)

USA land of the free, where the government spy on everyone and sentences kinds to a lifetime in prison for doing what is right.

USA land of the free, where the government spy on everyone and sentences kinds to a lifetime in prison for doing what is right.

God the amount of hypocrisy in here is fantastic. People complain about google and Microsoft but guess what Id be willing to bet most of you still use their services and actively give them money.

Yeah businesses make money. Big whoop that doesn't mean that they are wholly and innately corrupt. Good lord Id think people would be glad that someone was challenging this. For Christ sakes they are fighting this for the right to disclose what information the gov't is requesting from them. Id think people would be happy with a little transparency?

The problem people have is that it feels as though they're only suing the government now that they've been implicated as accomplices. It looks like the classic "They made us do it, we swear! We're victims too!" defense. If they were uncomfortable with it, why then didn't sue earlier? That sort of stuff always looks fishy.

Now, I think we can have this duscussion without people on both sides resorting to insulting eachother, right people? Yeah, we can. I believe in us.

What's more is that they could have said no to handing over the data. The NSA would have probably got to it anyway, but then they could say: "They stole it from us!"

@mariachimacabre: Well who knows what the terms of thr original deal was. I think everyone at some point has had that experience where they agreed to something and over time it morphed into something that they didn't feel comfortable supporting anymore. If they win this we will know exactly that.

A bunch of teens in this thread who don't understand that between black and white there are varying shades of gray

Google is definitely not in bed with the state department.

People in this thread also seem convinced that corps are all hiveminds instead of massive groups of people with little-to-no input in these kinds of decisions. I'm sure Microsoft and Google all have employees that are fine with getting in bed with the government and they also have employees that find the idea gross.

Also people are spending too much time on reddit I think, that's where all the idiotic fear-mongering on the net seems to come from.