• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Resources
  • Podcasts
  • Project of the Week
  • About Us
    SEARCH
IT Infrastructure, News

Microsoft Is Headed to Court Again, This Time Over Data

Microsoft is taking the federal government to court over a data request that affects one of its customer companies.

October 17, 2019 Jessica Messier Leave a Comment

Cybersecurity Consolidation, cyber readiness
NicoElNino/stock.adobe.com

According to Ars Technica, Microsoft is in court fighting for the right to tell one of its customers that the federal government requested data on its cloud services.

Most of the substantive filings for the case are sealed. What is known about the case is that the government’s request for the data arrived with an order prohibiting Microsoft from notifying its customer about it. Viewing the request as inappropriate,  Microsoft challenged it in September 2018.

The tech company also views the data request as too vague, especially since its customer in question has thousands of employees: “Based on the limited information available to us in this case, we feel the secrecy order was too broadly drawn and is inconsistent with the U.S. government’s policy that secrecy orders be narrowly tailored,” Dev Stahlkopf, Microsoft’s general counsel, wrote in a statement.

Microsoft says that the government should identify someone from its customer company “who can be notified without jeopardizing the investigation.” A judge rejected the tech company’s request, and the secrecy requirement remains in place.

What Decision Makers Should Know About This Case

Today, tech companies are finding themselves in similar positions as Microsoft. In fact, the New York Times recently reported that the F.B.I. has been obtaining data from multiple tech companies, which “have raised privacy concerns for years.” Data requests vary from usernames, locations, IP addresses and records of purchases, and often come with a gag order. Industry experts and companies are questioning the government’s authority and intent behind these requests.

As a result, tech companies fight the requests. In fact, this isn’t Microsoft’s first rodeo in court, either. In 2014, it was able to ward off an FBI secrecy order pertaining to a customer of Office 365. In 2016, it sued the Department of Justice over “repeated use of over-broad secrecy orders;” the government settled by “agreeing to limit its use of gag orders,” Ars Technica says.

The hearing for Microsoft’s current case with the federal government is scheduled for Oct. 22 of this year.

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!

Tagged With: Data Security, Legal

Related Content:

  • Cloud, SASE, Aryaka How the Cloud is Redefining Media Production and…
  • Singlewire Software mass notification interview Singlewire Software on Mass Notification Solutions
  • URI catchbox 1 Catchbox Plus: The Mic Solution That Finally Gave…
  • Engaging virtual meeting with diverse participants discussing creative ideas in a bright office space during daylight hours Diversified Survey: Workplace AV Tech is Falling Short,…

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • Practical Design Guide for Office SpacesPractical Design Guide for Office Spaces

    Recent Gartner research shows that workers prefer to return to the office for in-person meetings for relevant milestones, as well as for face-to-face time with co-workers. When designing the office spaces — and meeting spaces in particular — enabling that connection between co-workers is crucial. But introducing the right collaboration technology in meeting spaces can […]

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Downloads

Practical Design Guide for Office Spaces
Practical Design Guide for Office Spaces

Recent Gartner research shows that workers prefer to return to the office for in-person meetings for relevant milestones, as well as for face-to-fa...

New Camera Can Transform Your Live Production Workflow
New Camera System Can Transform Your Live Production Workflow

Sony's HXC-FZ90 studio camera system combines flexibility and exceptional image quality with entry-level pricing.

Creating Great User Experience and Ultimate Flexibility with Clickshare

Working and collaborating in any office environment today should be meaningful, as workers today go to office for very specific reasons. When desig...

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

AV-iQ

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Contact Us
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!
Emerald Logo
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSYour Privacy ChoicesTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

© 2025 Emerald X, LLC. All rights reserved.