Microsoft ordered to turn over foreign data

New York - Microsoft must turn over a customer's e-mails and other account information stored in a data centre in Ireland to the US government, a US judge ruled on Thursday, in a case that has drawn concern from privacy groups and major technology companies.

Microsoft and other US companies had challenged the warrant, arguing it improperly extended the authority of federal prosecutors to seize customer information held in foreign countries.

US District Judge Loretta Preska in New York said a search warrant granted to prosecutors by a federal magistrate judge required the company to hand over any data it controlled, regardless of where it was stored.

The judge said she would temporarily stay her order from taking effect to allow Microsoft to appeal her decision to the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals.