Microsoft Held In Contempt Of Court For Not Handing Over Customer Data Stored Overseas To US Government

Microsoft believes that you own your email no matter where it is stored. But, US Government thinks Microsoft should handover data wherever it is stored if it is under control of Microsoft. The dispute between Microsoft and US government is now in court and Microsoft is demanding 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. Recently, Microsoft was held in contempt of court for not complying with the court’s previous ruling of handing over customer data to US government.

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.

To view a copy of the judge’s order, as well as other filings in the case, click here.