Yahoo 'threatened' by US government with $250,000-a-day fine

[super jumbe]

Yahoo said the US government threatened to fine it $250,000 a day if the search giant failed to hand over user data.

According to court documents, the National Security Agency (NSA) had demanded that Yahoo comply with new surveillance rules, something the company said was unconstitutional.

Yahoo failed in a court challenge on the constitutionality of the order.

But the details emerged on Thursday when a federal judge ordered the unsealing of some material about the case.

Yahoo's general counsel Ron Bell said publication of the material was "an important win for transparency".

Yahoo said that the government amended a law to demand user information from online services, prompting a court challenge. Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden disclosed the programme last year.

But the court documents reveal that the battle over surveillance between technology firms and the US government stretched back years before the Snowden revelations.

The new material about the case, first reported by the Washington Post, underscores "how we had to fight every step of the way to challenge the US government's surveillance efforts',' Mr Bell added.

"At one point, the US government threatened the imposition of $250,000 in fines per day if we refused to comply," he said.

About 1,500 pages of previously classified documents were unsealed by a federal court.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29169722

[ontherack]

Uncle Sam don't like transparency coming their way, they will become even more devious

[Meat-Head]

Would have thought they would pull the plug if they no comply

[jaws2]

kim.dotcom my hero just now

[GastonJ]

It's more than uncle sam, it appears to be most of the so called 'free' countries do the same. At least in China and the like they tell you they're watching, listening, and reading, in the UK and US they just do it anyway then lie about it and then tell you it's for your own good.... *shrug*

[ontherack]

Ah! The illusion of freedom is wonderful.....

[super jumbe]

We were told by yahoo that all your data is kept safe but NSA took matter to court because yahoo failed to hand over users data therefore now ordered to pay $250.000 a day, I can not understand why all customers have to agree to tick when our information is going to be sent to third part regardless?..

[GastonJ]

We were told by yahoo that all your data is kept safe but NSA took matter to court because yahoo failed to hand over users data therefore now ordered to pay $250.000 a day, I can not understand why all customers have to agree to tick when our information is going to be sent to third part regardless…..[ATTACH=CONFIG]277618[/ATTACH]

Because all companies have to comply with teh law of the land in which they are companies. Failure to do so by a government changing the law forcing them to hand over data renders them liable. Yahoo appear to have tried and are trying not to, but if teh US kept up teh fine would you contribute yoru cash to stop them handing over the data? Regardless of that the UK government intercepts everything that goes in and out of the UK anyway, and they don't ask.

[Meat-Head]

So what your saying gastin is to carry my trend on of cash in envelopes?

[GastonJ]

Unmarked cash in brown envelopes is always good, however even the freedom to draw your money out of a bank has now been curtailed. Banks have now been asked to ask why you want your money and there have been a few cases where they have refused to hand it over to those wanting large sums of cash.

HSBC

"We ask our customers about the purpose of large cash withdrawals when they are unusual and out of keeping with the normal running of their account. Since last November, in some instances we may have also asked these customers to show us evidence of what the cash is required for."

*shrug*

[ifred]

Yep when a friend had their car stolen the matter the police was most interested in was how they paid for it and proof bank statement etc, why?
They had saved up for years and didn't buy it on credit!!!
I'm going to ask them how they managed to withdraw or transfer the money
track the criminal down doubt it probably give them a medal or something

[Meat-Head]

Gaston, just walk into bank with parts catalogs show them the bird on the cover, your off to buy it.