Microsoft Reveals Sharp Increase in U.S. Government Surveillance Requests
New data from Microsoft’s biannual transparency report shows a dramatic rise in Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) requests during the first half of 2016. The tech giant received between 1,000-1,499 content disclosure orders - more than double the previous reporting period and the highest volume since Microsoft began tracking these requests in 2011.
Key Findings from Microsoft’s Transparency Report
- Surge in FISA Requests: Content orders jumped from 0-499 (2015) to 1,000-1,499 (Jan-Jun 2016)
- Fewer Accounts Affected: Impacted users decreased from 17,500-17,999 to 12,000-12,499
- Reporting Limitations: U.S. regulations require companies to disclose request volumes in broad ranges rather than exact numbers
Growing Scrutiny of FISA Authority
The report emerges amid renewed debate about U.S. surveillance powers. Recent political controversies, including unverified claims about surveillance during the 2016 presidential transition, have brought FISA under increased examination.
How FISA Surveillance Works
- Secret Court Approval: All FISA orders require approval from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
- Strict Confidentiality: Even the existence of specific FISA orders is typically classified
- Recent Example: The FBI obtained a FISA order to monitor former Trump advisor Carter Page during the Russia investigation
Pending Legislation and Transparency Efforts
With parts of FISA set to expire in December 2017, Congress faces critical decisions:
- Reauthorization Debate: Lawmakers must vote to extend expiring provisions
- Privacy Reforms Proposed: Some legislators advocate for increased transparency and oversight measures
- Incidental Collection Limits: Proposals aim to restrict searches of Americans’ data gathered during foreign surveillance
Broader Tech Industry Transparency
Microsoft joined other major tech firms in disclosing government surveillance activities:
- First Public NSL: Microsoft published a national security letter (warrantless FBI request)
- Industry Trend: Twitter and Yahoo have made similar disclosures under 2015’s USA Freedom Act
This transparency reporting provides rare insight into the scale of U.S. intelligence gathering while highlighting ongoing tensions between national security needs and privacy rights.
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