V četrtek sta dve majhni ameriški podjetji, ponudnika elektronske pošte, nenadoma zaprla vrata in uničila serverje. Lavabit zato, ker je dobil uradni tajni nalog za preiskavo, Secret Circle pa, ker je pričakoval, da ga bo dobil. Obe podjetji sta se odločili, da raje uničita svoje podjetje, kot da bi razkrili zasebno pošto njunih uporabnikov ameriški vladi. To je nekaj, kar si velika podjetja, kot so Facebook, Microsoft ali Google, ne morejo privoščiti, zato raje sodelujejo z NSA. Kar seveda pomeni, da si danes nihče, podjetja ali posamezniki, ne more privoščiti, da bi zaupal svoje komunikacije in druge podatke serverjem podjetij, ki zapadejo pod ameriške zakone.

Lavabit, a Texas-based service that was reportedly used by Edward J. Snowden, the leaker who had worked as a National Security Agency contractor, announced the suspension of its service Thursday afternoon. In a blog post, the company’s owner, Ladar Levison, suggested — though did not say explicitly — that he had received a secret search order, and was choosing to shut the service to avoid being “complicit in crimes against the American people.”

Within hours, a fast-growing Maryland-based start-up called Silent Circle also closed its e-mail service and destroyed its e-mail servers. The company said it saw the writing on the wall — while also making it plain that it had not yet received any court orders soliciting user data.

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In effect, both businesses destroyed their assets — in part or in full — to avoid turning over their customers’ data. Such public displays are far more difficult for large companies to make, and help explain why the most public efforts to challenge secret government orders have come from small companies and nonprofits.

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The level of secrecy appeared to be a particular frustration for Mr. Levison. On the Lavabit site Thursday afternoon, Mr. Levison said he was legally prohibited from explaining why he had been compelled to suspend operations. “I wish that I could legally share with you the events that led to my decision. I cannot,” he wrote.

“This experience has taught me one very important lesson: without Congressional action or a strong judicial precedent, I would strongly recommend against anyone trusting their private data to a company with physical ties to the United States,” he added.

Vir: New York Times