30 minutes, all it took for Microsoft to disclose attacker's info
Redmond-based software giant had proved the capability to provide investigators with access to data belonging to Westminster Bridge attacker in less than 30 minutes, the company has revealed in a statement. The company has however, not stated as to what details or information was actually disclosed.
Microsoft has stated several times that it is willing to provide information regarding its customers to law enforcement as long as a valid legal order is provided. The company’s commitment to helping authorities track down criminals was repeated last week.
In an interview with Mashable, Microsoft President Brad Smith said, “Our team responded in under 30 minutes last week to verify that the legal order was valid and provided law enforcement the information that was sought.”
Even as Microsoft has expressed its intent to collaborate with governments in the event of attacks to catching criminals globally, Smith has stated that such a thing would happen only if a valid order is provided and his statement was received with mixed reactions in the United Kingdom.
Last week, UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd had stated that tech companies to not provide terrorists with what she called “a secret place,” directing towards Whatsapp as the platform whose end-to-end encryption made it possible to communicate without being intercepted.
Smith’s comments have been widely criticized in the United Kingdom including the media. In a follow-up statement, Smith has stated that Microsoft is fully committed to working with authorities as long as a valid order is provided.
“Our global team is on call 24/7 and responds when it receives a proper and lawful order. This of course is different from helping a government outside the rule of law to turn over private information or hack or attack a customer, which we’ve said clearly we will not do. We’re committed both to protecting public safety and safeguarding personal privacy, and we believe that proper legal process is the key to striking this balance,” he said.
Microsoft is currently embroiled in a legal dispute involving the US government over a data request order which it considers illegal and asking for data stored on a data center overseas. Microsoft has stated that the warrant should be valid only in the United States and data which is located on foreign services shouldn’t be available to the US government.
