[jtome]

Wrong, if they are tapping at the wires they only see that your using gmail, not the content of your email or who you are speaking to (Unless you turn off ssl for some strange reason).

[pvnick]

How likely is it that these companies can be compelled to turn over their SSL private keys via FISA court?

[sitkack]

Very likely. Even if it was for a specific case.

[csirac2]

Isn't the whole point of all this outrage that NSA have equipment or data exchange arrangements with GMail etc. so that SSL is irrelevant?

[jtome]

"Isn't the whole point of all this outrage that NSA have equipment or data exchange arrangements with GMail etc. so that SSL is irrelevant" Yes which is why the NSA needs the cooperation of the companies, since this info can't be gotten just by listening on the wire.