CLOUD Act Data Access

The cluster discusses how the US CLOUD Act and similar laws compel US-based companies to provide government access to user data stored anywhere, even overseas, highlighting privacy risks and jurisdictional concerns compared to other countries.

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Keywords

US AWS ProtonMail www.eff ACT CN SkyDrive en.m GoogleDrive E.g data companies government usa nsa cloud act law privacy jurisdiction

Sample Comments

rcw4256 Jul 24, 2020 View on HN

If the data exists within US jurisdiction, the US government feels (and, in practice, is) entitled to it. Plan accordingly.

sushicat Oct 11, 2019 View on HN

Before you made such judgement you need to think why you have freedom of speech and privacy here, because they all protected by US laws. The companies here can do things against government for protecting users privacy and security is because laws protected them.Also, the privacy people talked about these days is more focusing on how these data got stored and used by companies and advertisement agencies. They shouldn’t use your data for profit without appropriate consent.All the companies h

dareobasanjo Mar 23, 2018 View on HN

With the passing of the CLOUD act, moving your server or email outside the US likely won't help. See https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/02/cloud-act-dangerous-ex...

mkl Nov 7, 2025 View on HN

No, anywhere as far as data goes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CLOUD_Act

xdennis Aug 8, 2022 View on HN

If you store data in your own country with non-American companies you're protected by your country's judicial system. If you use an American company or American-based company you're subject to illegal spying from the NSA or extra-judicial warrants from the CLOUD Act (which compels Americans to apply American law outside the US).

buyucu Feb 10, 2025 View on HN

It's illegal for US companies to deny US government data. Have you heard of the Cloud Act?

eloisant Sep 14, 2020 View on HN

It might not be as official as in China, but the US government has US based companies in control.The Cloud Act basically says that the Federal government can force any US company to hand over data, even if the data is not located in US.Even before the Cloud Act was passed, with the PRISM program Big Tech were offering a backdoor to the NSA to access their data.So, not as visible, but just as effective.

amai Apr 18, 2024 View on HN

Doesn‘t the https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/CLOUD_Act already grant similar rights to US law enforcement and secret services?

strcat Jun 11, 2019 View on HN

Every US company has to comply with lawful US government orders if they're going to continue operating. I highly recommend reading carefully through the details on the page you linked. It doesn't only apply to a few companies. It's very difficult to fight the government even in cases where it's arguably unconstitutional, etc. You have to assume that all US companies are going to comply with US warrants to obtain information, including when those warrants come from a secret co

yohannparis Sep 6, 2023 View on HN

Yes this is what I meant. Thank you for the clarification as some people might not be aware of those United States of America federal laws.For example the CLOUD act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CLOUD_Act