If we assume Snap's legal department is competent and sane, does that suggest any interesting hidden motives?
For example, is it possible that they were coerced into doing something state-actor-y for the federal government, but they're not allowed to mention it because their speech has been stifled with a National Security Letter? (I know some lower courts ruled them unconstitutional in the past, but I'm not sure what the current status-quo is.)
"Oh, we're so sorry, oh most-honored and wise and ethical Executive Branch, we tried to cooperate, but somehow that Judicial Branch just started telling us we can't..."
If they’re fine binding their future to that of corrupt government officials, then this is certainly the right administration to take that bet with. Are their financials sound?
Failing to turn over proof to a judge would not particularly protect them, so that will hinge on them filing a (presumably sealed) exhibit in response to a judicial request compelling them to submit it. Seems a very poor bet to take since the judge is likely to reject any simple ‘data sharing’ or ‘crypto weakening’ order as not compelling the totality or even a majority of their business, which is ‘sharing public and private gossip between friends’ — a goal not materially hindered by compulsory wiretapping, any more than it would have been for Ma Bell or her successors. However, if the government’s order is dictating their actions to the degree that they have no freedom of action regarding this case in specific, then it could work. That seems a particularly unlikely scenario; it’s much more likely that they’re just witlessly pulling a judicial lever that an AI proposed to them, than that they are a true puppet of FedGov. We’ll see.
Terr_ · · focus · HN ↗
For example, is it possible that they were coerced into doing something state-actor-y for the federal government, but they're not allowed to mention it because their speech has been stifled with a National Security Letter? (I know some lower courts ruled them unconstitutional in the past, but I'm not sure what the current status-quo is.)
"Oh, we're so sorry, oh most-honored and wise and ethical Executive Branch, we tried to cooperate, but somehow that Judicial Branch just started telling us we can't..."
altairprime · · focus · HN ↗
Terr_ · · focus · HN ↗
As for the other direction... I imagine that corrupt officials would prefer to have the deniability.
altairprime · · focus · HN ↗