[multjoy]

If the law is "you will hand over this data in response to a warrant", how did they fail?

The fact that the US warrant system has holes capable of driving a truck through isn't the fault of Verizon - there exists no sensible way of validating a warrant.

[cogman10]

> If the law is "you will hand over this data in response to a warrant", how did they fail?

Just because a piece of paper claims to be a warrant, doesn't mean it is one. Warrants and subpoenas contain contact information for the person that issued them. It is on verizon to verify that the warrant the received was legitimate and if it wasn't, to report to the DA that someone is issuing fake warrants (which is a crime all by itself).

Subpoenas (like verizon was issued) are never immediately actionable. You have a right to appeal subpoenas. If the subpoena had a "You must respond right now" trigger it'd eliminate that right. Something I'm CERTAIN verizon knows because they file motions to quash all the time [1].

[1] https://casetext.com/case/in-re-verizon-internet-services-in...

[mulmen]

If there's no way to validate a warrant how does Verizon validate compliance?

[ethanbond]

There is a way, that’s the whole point. They can contact the issuing authority, just like you do when you get any letter or email asking you for sensitive information.

[mulmen]

Yes, exactly.