Arguably, Microsoft has a right to protect their IP (Intellectual Property). Conversely, even someone accused of a criminal act has a right to due-process… Yet, when Redmond acts where there’s a compromise (i.e., essentially circumventing said ‘due-process’) at the expense of ‘Civil Liberties’ (i.e., snooping on email / someone’s privacy) it becomes rather obvious that they (and, in all probability, the General Public will never know what percentage of Fortune 500 Technology Companies are / have abused their power, etc.) are just as culpable as any given government’s surveillance activities (which in the pre-Snowden-era bordered on Orwellian at best)… Now, in the post-Snowden-era it’s questionable whether there is enough earnest / healthy debate on how to strike a balance between National Security and Civil Liberties. Unfortunately, this is an area where America and much of the OECD are not fully engaged (presently) to all parties’ detriment.
(Source) In The Capital: http://goo.gl/BJLCme