Microsoft, Trump administration clash over email searches

Federal agents persuaded a judge to issue a warrant for a Microsoft email account they suspected was used for drug trafficking.

The case is among several legal clashes that Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft and other technology companies have had with the government over questions of digital privacy and authorities' need for information to combat crime and extremism.

The administration's Supreme Court appeal said the decision is damaging "hundreds if not thousands of investigations of crimes — ranging from terrorism, to child pornography, to fraud."

Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, said in a blog post following the high court appeal that the administration's position "would put businesses in impossible conflict-of-law situations and hurt the security, jobs, and personal rights of Americans."

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, opposes the administration's appeal, but said in a statement that "Congress can and should modernize data privacy laws to ensure that law enforcement can access evidence in a timely manner."

The company also is among those challenging "gag orders" that prevent service providers from notifying customers that their data have been turned over to the government under court order.