Microsoft admits Patriot Act can access EU-based cloud data: MD of Microsoft UK, says that cloud dat

[Starpluck]

[URL]http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/microsoft-admits-patriot-act-can-access-eu-based-cloud-data/11225[/URL]
[release]
LONDON — At the Office 365 launch, Gordon Frazer, managing director of Microsoft UK, gave the first admission that cloud data — regardless of where it is in the world — is not protected against the USA PATRIOT Act.

It was honestly music to my ears. After a year of [URL="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/summary-zdnets-usa-patriot-act-series/9233"]researching the Patriot Act’s breadth and ability to access data held within protected EU boundaries[/URL], Microsoft finally and openly admitted it.
The question put forward:[INDENT]“Can Microsoft guarantee that EU-stored data, held in EU based datacenters, will not leave the European Economic Area under any circumstances — even under a request by the Patriot Act?”
[/INDENT]Frazer explained that, as Microsoft is a U.S.-headquartered company, it has to comply with local laws (the United States, as well as any other location where one of its subsidiary companies is based).

Though he said that “customers would be informed wherever possible”, he could not provide a guarantee that they would be informed — if a gagging order, injunction or U.S. National Security Letter permits it.

He said: “[B]Microsoft cannot provide those guarantees. Neither can any other company[/B]“.

While it has been suspected for some time, this is the first time Microsoft, or any other company, has given this answer.

Any data which is housed, stored or processed by a company, which is a U.S. based company or is wholly owned by a U.S. parent company, is vulnerable to interception and inspection by U.S. authorities.

Last week, Microsoft opened up its Online Services Trust Center which explained in great detail how data was managed, handled and [URL="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/microsoft-we-can-hand-over-office-365-data-without-your-permission/11041"]if necessary, handed over to the authorities[/URL].[/release]This is dumb.

[Hyperbole]

Once again this shows the patriot act is a useless piece of trash that needs to go.
But it'll stay purely because it allows the US to stick it's dick everywhere.

[kaven]

Wow....fucking really?

[photonManipul8r]

What the fuck.

[cathal6606]

-snip-

[Ninja Duck]

[QUOTE=cathal6606;30870080]What is the patriot act?[/QUOTE]

[quote=Wikipedia]The USA PATRIOT Act (commonly known as the "Patriot Act") is an Act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001. The title of the Act is a ten letter acronym (or more correctly, a backronym) (USA PATRIOT), which stands for [b]Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism[/b] Act of 2001.[1] [b]The Act dramatically reduced restrictions on law enforcement agencies' ability to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial, and other records; eased restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States[/b]; expanded the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The act also expanded the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the USA PATRIOT Act’s expanded law enforcement powers can be applied.
Just before the midnight deadline on May 26, 2011, President Barack Obama signed a 4-year extension of three key provisions in the USA Patriot Act: [2] roving wiretaps, searches of business records (the "library records provision"), and conducting surveillance of "lone wolves" — individuals suspected of terrorist-related activities not linked to terrorist groups.[/quote]

[AltFanatic]

fucking dammit obama
shouldve gotten rid of it

[ironman17]

Ugh, the Patriot Act. Just another old scroll intended to let the government police the nation with little to no boundaries.

[DainBramageStud]

So is there anything the EU can do about this? I'm sure this contravenes numerous EU laws.

[Mr Skeltal]

Guys, if I became president I would let the patriot act die, even if it kills me politically

[johan_sm]

Why is it named "patriot act" where it would make people less patriotic if told them about the act?

[editline]3rd July 2011[/editline]

[QUOTE=IliekBoxes;30870226]Guys, if I became president I would let the patriot act die, even if it kills me politically[/QUOTE]Judging by your avatar, name and your icons under your name, you have no chances

[DainBramageStud]

[QUOTE=johan_sm;30870243]Why is it named "patriot act" where it would make people less patriotic if told them about the act?[/QUOTE]

It's an acronym

[b]P[/b]roviding [b]A[/b]ppropriate [b]T[/b]ools [b]R[/b]equired to [b]I[/b]ntercept and [b]O[/b]bstruct [b]T[/b]errorism

[Nerts]

Dear Americans,

Get rid of this shit ASAP.

Thanks,
Rest of the planet.

[DainBramageStud]

snip

[breakyourface]

The patriot act is stupid, I really really really really wish it gets repealed soon :/

[Awesomecaek]

how about EU tells Microsoft to fuck off out of the place if it cant keep it's shit together

of course they can keep the data isolated, if you can't do it meaningfully, well I guess you have to separate your clouds you dumb fucks

daughter companies and whatshit and so

[Used Car Salesm]

Proof that uploading and storing personal data into the cloud is a very stupid thing to do. At least make them take the effort to kick down your door and confiscate your hard drive instead of just being able to grab it off Microsoft's servers.

[Bombardier.]

[QUOTE=ironman17;30870168]Ugh, the Patriot Act. Just another old scroll intended to let the government police the nation with little to no boundaries.[/QUOTE]

And apparently nations other than our own.

[Reimu]

Things like the Patriot Act are staples of Americans curbing freedom of speech during times of crisis. Just look at the Alien & Sedition Act, suspension of habeus corpus by Pres Lincoln, the WWI Sedition Act, CIA wiretapping in the Cold War. The Patriot Act is actually very light compared to some of the crap Congress has passed during wartime years (Japanese & Italian internment for starters).

Granted, that shouldn't make Microsoft handing information over regarding EU customers okay.

[DainBramageStud]

It's worse because Congress apparently has the power to pass laws that affect customers in every country in the world, but not vice versa.

[HoloRaptor]

[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;30870927]how about EU tells Microsoft to fuck off out of the place if it cant keep it's shit together

of course they can keep the data isolated, if you can't do it meaningfully, well I guess you have to separate your clouds you dumb fucks

daughter companies and whatshit and so[/QUOTE]
Don't blame Microsoft, im pretty sure Google and any other company with offices in the U.S face this problem. Its either hand over the data you definitely have access to or face obstruction of justice.

[Jsm]

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;30870376]It's an acronym

[b]P[/b]roviding [b]A[/b]ppropriate [b]T[/b]ools [b]R[/b]equired to [b]I[/b]ntercept and [b]O[/b]bstruct [b]T[/b]errorism[/QUOTE]

Its a handy acronym, because anyone in America who is against it is clearly unpatriotic and should be ignored.
Probably the reason they are stuck with it.

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;30870182]So is there anything the EU can do about this? I'm sure this contravenes numerous EU laws.[/QUOTE]

I would hope so, I am pretty sure Microsoft could get some rather large fines from different countries in the EU.

[5killer]

Is this for European citizens, or American ones?

[PvtCupcakes]

I can't say I'm surprised by this since Microsoft is a US company.
Still pretty crap though.

[Edthefirst]

It was supposed to sunset, what, two or three times already, and each time they extended it. Fuck, come on Obama. You seriously fucked up and extended it.

Ugh.

[Tunak Mk. II]

[QUOTE=Nerts;30870382]Dear Americans,

Get rid of this shit ASAP.

Thanks,
Rest of the planet.[/QUOTE]

no problem man imma get on it right now be back in a few minutes

[Nerts]

[QUOTE=Tunak Mk. II;30873559]no problem man imma get on it right now be back in a few minutes[/QUOTE]

Thanks, bro.

[Hyperbole]

[QUOTE=Jsm;30872984]

I would hope so, I am pretty sure Microsoft could get some rather large fines from different countries in the EU.[/QUOTE]

As far as I'm aware whenever a foreign country claims that they want certain information from EU residents/locations, they have to go through the proper channels here, if they don't, they're in a load of shit as the information will be illegally seized.

[Swilly]

[QUOTE=Nerts;30870382]Dear Americans,

Get rid of this shit ASAP.

Thanks,
Rest of the planet.[/QUOTE]

Dear Rest of the Planet,

We aren't listened to anymore.

Sincerely, An American who is moving out.

[Itsjustguy]

Okay, now really ? Really ?!