LinkedIn asks to disclose US security orders

WASHINGTON - The Associated Press

The logo of LinkedIn Corporation, a social networking website for people in professional occupations, is seen in Mountain View, California in this February 6, 2013 file picture. REUTERS photo

LinkedIn has asked a secret court to allow it to disclose the number of U.S. national security orders the company has received under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

On Wednesday, LinkedIn joined four other companies that have similar cases pending before the FISA Court. The other four are Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Facebook.
 
Among other reasons, LinkedIn said it wanted to disclose the information to address its members' concerns about the privacy and security of their data.
 
The company said negotiations with the FBI on the issue have reached an impasse.
 
LinkedIn argued in its motion that it has a right to report the data under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The company asked the FISA Court to hold public oral arguments on its motion.