The government has used the 'amicus curiae' (friend of the court) rules to file a submission to a case in which it is not directly involved. It is backing the Microsoft argument that it need not hand over emails requested through a New York court warrant. The emails have been requested in relation to a drug trafficking investigation. 

Privacy safeguard

Dara Murphy TD, Minister for Data Protection, said in a statement: 'The right of individuals to the protection of their personal data is an essential foundation for modern society and the growing digital economy. We must ensure that individuals and organisations can have confidence in the rules and processes that have been put in place to safeguard privacy.' Source: Irish Times