U.S. Supreme Court weighs Microsoft overseas data fight

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A major privacy rights fight between Microsoft Corp<MSFT.O> and the Justice Department reaches the Supreme Court this week, with the justices considering whether U.S. law allows prosecutors to compel technology companies to hand over data stored overseas.

The nine justices will hear arguments on Tuesday in a case that pits the interests of tech companies and privacy advocates in safeguarding customer data against the demands of law enforcement in obtaining information crucial to criminal and counterterrorism investigations.

The case began with a 2013 warrant obtained by prosecutors for emails of a suspect in a drug trafficking investigation that were stored in Microsoft computer servers in Dublin. The company challenged whether a domestic warrant covered data stored abroad. The Justice Department said because Microsoft is based in the United States, prosecutors were entitled to the data.

The case is being closely watched by other countries wrestling with similar concerns, including members of the European Union. A ruling is due by the end of June.  

Source: Yahoo News