Microsoft refuses to hand over emails to US authorities

Microsoft will not hand over email data to US prosecutors, despite being ordered to do so by the courts after a suspension order was lifted.

The company said it will appeal against the command that concerns data held in a datacentre based in Ireland.

Microsoft, along with other companies including US phone network AT&T, has refused to hand over its customer data in order to protect users' privacy. They argue that emails should be protected in the same way mail and telephone conversations in the US are.

A Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters:"Microsoft will not be turning over the email and plans to appeal. Everyone agrees this case can and will proceed to the appeals court. This is simply about finding the appropriate procedure for that to happen."

Chief Judge Loretta Preska of the US District Court in Manhattan, had issued a suspension on the ruling previously, giving Microsoft the opportunity to appeal against the decision, but this was lifted last Friday.

Former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked information that revealed some of the major technology companies had been handing over their data to the US government without customers' permission. Now those companies are trying to prove that they didn't hand over data, fearful they may lose international customers.

They are concerned that by handing over data when requested, the US courts could see it as permission to take data as and when they feel it is appropriate.

This is the first case where a company has refused to hand over data after a US court requested data held internationally is released.