Google, Without Admitting It Gets FISA Orders, Files Lawsuit To Challenge FISA Gag Orders

Free Speech

from the well-that-ought-to-be-interesting dept

Google appears to be stepping it up a notch in trying to fight back against the claims that it is somehow opening up its system to the NSA or other law enforcement folks. As you now know well, one of the leaks from Ed Snowden a few weeks ago was about a system called PRISM, which is associated with how tech companies provide information to the federal government in response to FISA court orders. The initial reports, claiming that the NSA had full direct access to servers and could see what people were doing in real time, appear to have been extremely overblown, as it now seems clear that this was much more narrow. But there’s still a big question of how narrow. Google sent an open letter to the DOJ, asking for permission to reveal basic numbers on how many FISA requests they receive and how many people have had information passed along to the government under the program. The government then gave “permission” in a way that actually further obfuscated things, only allowing the release of numbers when combined with all sorts of other government requests.

Now, Google has filed a lawsuit against the government, arguing that gag orders on FISA requests violate the First Amendment. The filing itself is an interesting read, in part for its first footnote:

Nothing in this Motion is intended to confirm or deny that Google has received any order or orders issued by this Court.

Of course, that might lead some to suggest that Google can’t actually have standing, but there’s an interesting legal argument here. Basically, Google is arguing that the perception that it’s opened up its network to the NSA, as suggested in various reports, and which it cannot refute fully without revealing some details of FISA orders it has received, has caused it harm.

Google’s reputation and business has been harmed by the false or misleading reports in the media, and Google’s users are concerned by the allegations. Google must respond to such claims with more than generalities. Moreover, these are matters of significant weight and importance, and transparency is critical to advancing public debate in a thoughtful and democratic manner.

Given that, Google is seeking a declaratory judgment from the court that it has a First Amendment right to publish the total number of FISA requests it receives and the total number of users associated with those requests, though obviously not anything more. I’m sure the government will come back with all sorts of excuses as to why this is horrible, but it certainly presents an interesting legal challenge to the FISA court’s gag orders.

Filed Under: first amendment, fisa, fisa court, free speech, gag order, prism
Companies: google