~60,000 google user accounts(not just email, but all your web browsing data) were handed over to the government in 2016. And this was under the Obama administration.
Those aren't requests to hand over all a user's data to the government. Half of those are subpoenas, and half of the remaining are search warrants. You're probably thinking of NSLs, which you can find ranges for https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/U..., but those don't contain content. Also, it's unclear why you're talking about the number of Americans when the executive order is a change in the handling of foreigners' data.
FISA Content requests: July to December 2015 21000–21499.
Note - FISA requests includes all personal information, NSL does not.
And sure - this particular order is about foreigners' data, but they might require citizens' data in future.
Also is data privacy only a US citizen's right? Googlers claimed to have strong views when non-citizen googlers were being treated unfairly on immigration. But no statement when non-citizens' privacy is being snatched away.
> You can't write an executive order that says you can get access to something you previously needed a warrant for without a warrant.
Well, you can. If the US AG thinks it's illegal, you can fire her. If it's argued in court, you've got a floating SCOTUS appointment ready to make.
(The distinction between "can they do that?" and "can they legally do that?" is normally pedantic but at a time when CBP are reported to be ignoring court orders ( http://nypost.com/2017/01/29/customs-agents-ignore-judge-enf... ), this is becoming increasingly important)
You can look at the definition here: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/1801. Suspicion of espionage or terrorism isn't enough to be considered an agent of a foreign power. A US citizen must be known to have aided a foreign power in espionage or sabotage and done so knowingly.
sure - that was not the intention. Fixed. I care deeply about user data privacy and how we have traded privacy(and user experience) for free software. Maybe recent events will change the trade-offs.