Microsoft case ruling ‘going to have a huge impact’

Large multinationals could move at least part of their operations out of Ireland as a result of the car crash-like fallout that could ensue should US authorities force Microsoft to hand over data stored in Irish data centres.

A leading security consultant has said the ongoing legal dispute between US authorities and the world’s second largest company, in which the Irish Government and European Commission are also involved, is going to have a huge impact and could have have widespread ramifications for large multinationals who have chosen Ireland to store their customers’ data.

BT Ireland security consultant, Gareth Price said that should the request made by a New York judge not be overturned, it would undermine consumers’ confidence in companies’ ability to protect their privacy.