Yahoo demands US government allow disclosure of data requests

Yahoo has begun legal action demanding it
be allowed to disclose details of US national
security agencies' requests to access the
personal data of its users.
The move comes a few days after Yahoo
published its first transparency report,
detailing the overall number of global
government requests for data.
US law prohibits organisations from providing
a breakdown of these figures.
Yahoo said withholding such information from
the public "breeds mistrust and suspicion"
about the US government.
The web company followed Google and
Microsoft in releasing its first transparency
report last week, detailing requests for users'
data by 17 countries in which it has a legal
entity.
The publication followed increased pressure by
privacy groups for technology companies to
disclose details of their collaboration with law
enforcement agencies.
Yahoo had previously taken legal action to
require the US government to publish
documents over the next few months, which it
said would show the company had objected to
the establishment of Prism, a surveillance
programme uncovered by whistleblower
Edward Snowden.
Under the US government's Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa), companies
are not allowed to publicly disclose details of
requests via programs like Prism, unless the
data is released in an aggregated fashion,
mixed together with less sensitive information.

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