Following Google’s suit, Microsoft has sought permission to allow it to disclose the number of data requests received by it from the US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
Microsoft made the request with the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on June 19.
Both Google and Microsoft argue that permission should be given to do so under the First Amendment.
Both these companies were among the identified US internet companies giving the National Security Agency (NSA) access to customer data under the surveillance programme Prism.
Microsoft says it wants to reassure its users about the kind of data it provides the government.
Microsoft said in its filing: "The media has erroneously reported that the alleged PRISM programme enables the US government to ‘tap directly into the central servers’ of Microsoft and other electronic communication service providers.
"Microsoft has sought, and continues to seek, to correct the misimpression, furthered by such inaccurate media reporting, that it provides the US government with direct access to its servers and network infrastructures."
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The software maker said that national security laws do not prevent it from disclosing the data, and it would amount to violation of the First Amendment, if they did.
