The company argued that the government’s request and reasoning were unlawful, and<br />that uncovering the identity of the user would have “a grave chilling effect” on the speech of the many “alt-accounts” that voice resistance to government policies.<br />“These First Amendment interests are at their zenith when, as here, the speech at issue touches on matters of public political life.”<br />Federal officials have said they need the data for national security or other reasons.<br />“To unmask an anonymous speaker online, the government must have a strong justification,” said Nathan Freed Wessler, an A. C.L.<br />Last year, Apple pushed back against the Federal Bureau of Investigation in a highly contentious case over privacy and national security.<br />The American Civil Liberties Union said it plans to represent the anonymous user or users behind the @ALT_USCIS account.
