Microsoft Fights U.S. Government Over Rights to Data on Foreign Servers

Microsoft is challenging a data request from the U.S. government in an unprecedented case that could have sweeping ramifications for online privacy around the world.

In December 2013, the U.S. government obtained a search warrant requesting information about an email user for an investigation apparently involving drugs and money laundering. But Microsoft is refusing to cooperate because the data in question is stored in Ireland, and the company argues the U.S. can't force it to hand over data stored outside American soil.