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Facebook Loses Appeal to Block Bulk Search Warrants
A New York court is denying Facebook the right to block bulk search warrants that require it to hand over data from hundreds of users sought by the office of the Manhattan district attorney in connection to a fraud case.
The state Court of Appeals’ decision Tuesday, which upheld the ruling of a New York appellate court, means Facebook is obligated to comply with the DA’s 381 warrants for information.
According to the Court of Appeals, Facebook does not have the right to challenge the criminal warrants on behalf of its clients, The New York Times is reporting. Facebook, which has been fighting the warrants since 2013, had said they were “too broad.” The social networking firm also objected to being unable to tell its affected users about the requests for their data.
The search warrants sought information on 381 Facebook accounts including photos and conversations. The DA’s office wanted the information to obtain indictments for disability fraud against retired police officers and other former public employees. The district attorney alleged those accused pretended to be sick after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
According to The Times, none of those who were indicted challenged the search warrants.
Google, Microsoft, Twitter, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation had all supported Facebook’s appeal.
Spokesman Jay Nancarrow said Facebook may yet take its case to the federal courts.
“We’re disappointed by the court’s ruling,” Nancarrow told The Times. “But we are encouraged to see the thorough dissent that supports Facebook’s position arguing for people’s online privacy.”
Jennifer Cowan is the Managing Editor for SiteProNews.
The post Facebook Loses Appeal to Block Bilk Search Warrants appeared first on SiteProNews.
Source: http://www.sitepronews.com/2017/04/05/facebook-loses-appeal-to-block-bilk-search-warrants/
