Facebook fights US gag order citing freedom of speech

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A public court filing in the US could end up in a First Amendment battle between Facebook and federal prosecutors over an order blocking the company from alerting users about search warrants for account information.

The social media giant said it wants to notify three users about the search warrants seeking their communications and personal information and also give them the opportunity to object to the warrants, according to a filing in a Washington, D.C., appeals court seen by Reuters.

But a US court issued a gag order preventing Facebook from doing so, a move the company is challenging because it represents a threat to freedom of speech.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on stage during a town hall at Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park, California September 27, 2015. /VCG Photo

"We believe there are important First Amendment concerns with this case, including the government's refusal to let us notify three people of broad requests for their account information in connection with public events," Facebook said in a statement on Monday.

The First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees certain rights, including freedom of speech.

William Miller, a spokesman for US prosecutors, declined to comment.

Facebook also decided to challenge the gag order because the events underlying the government's investigation were generally known to the public already, Facebook said in the undated court document.

The precise nature of the government's investigation is not known.

One document in the case said the timing of proceedings coincides with charges against people who protested President Donald Trump's inauguration in January where more than 200 people were arrested.

US President-elect Donald Trump arrives for the inauguration ceremony to swear him in as the 45th presidentin Washington, U.S. on January 20, 2017. / VCG Photo

Tech firms comply with thousands of requests for user data annually made by governments around the world, but in extraordinary circumstances, companies such as Microsoft Corp and Twitter, have challenged secrecy orders.

Facebook is getting support in court papers from several organizations including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as eight tech companies such as Microsoft and Apple Inc.

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which is the highest court in Washington for local matters, is scheduled to hear the case in September.

(Source: Reuters)