Facebook: We Are Fighting Court Ordered Disclosures
SACRAMENTO (CBS Sacramento) - Facebook says it's been fighting a court order demanding it disclose information about the social media accounts of hundreds of people, reports CNet.
In a statement, the social network says it is fighting to defend its customers' Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. "This unprecedented request is by far the largest we've ever received, by a magnitude of more than ten, and we have argued that it was unconstitutional from the start."
Facebook said 381 people's accounts were subject to warrants issued by an unspecified New York court. Only 62 were later charged in a disability fraud case.
The company said it was unable to discuss the case publicly, or even with the account holders who were affected, because of a court-issued gag order.
The world's largest social media site argues the search was "overly broad" and allowed the government to keep the seized photos, private messages, and other information indefinitely.
Its lawyers are calling on the government to return the data. In public records, Facebook said that from July to December 2013, it received 12,598 total requests from US law enforcement, requesting information from 18,715 users or accounts. It provided some data from 81 percent of the requests.
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