Subpoenas and Gag Orders

Discussions center on whether tech companies like OpenAI must comply with government subpoenas, court orders, or National Security Letters for user data, often under gag orders preventing disclosure of such requests.

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BBC MS FB US OP BETTER wikipedia.org NJ NSL JNJ court gag government order orders contempt national security court order compelled speech

Sample Comments

techslave • Jul 13, 2019 • View on HN

of course they wouldn’t, voluntarily. and you shouldn’t want them to. under subpoena however, they would have to.

RobRivera • Sep 10, 2024 • View on HN

What law mandates forced compliance outside subpoenas?

trotsky • Jun 5, 2012 • View on HN

In the US this is done with National Security Letters and Court Orders, both of which usually include gag orders - so no.

shaka881 • Feb 13, 2012 • View on HN

I don't think it is legally possible. I believe these requests are usually accompanied by gag orders.

noofen • May 21, 2021 • View on HN

Unless they're under a legal gag-order?

freejazz • Jan 31, 2024 • View on HN

They get subpoenaed if they don't agree

gargarplex • Apr 12, 2015 • View on HN

It belies the fact that OP prompted the lawyers to subpoena him.

msgodel • Jul 8, 2025 • View on HN

Absolutely not. If they get subpoenaed (as is the case here) they have no choice but to share it.

tartuffe78 • Apr 5, 2017 • View on HN

Perhaps a secret court order forbids them from doing that.

ComputerGuru • Jan 26, 2020 • View on HN

I don’t know about employment contracts, but Google around for info about National Security Letters and gag orders. It’s certainly a thing, at least when the other party is the federal government.