"Direct access" is the specific accusation that has been leveled at them. For example, the Guardian is using the headline "NSA has direct access to tech giants' systems for user data, secret files reveal" on their front page, and the phrase "direct access" is used three times in their story. [1]
I think that everybody assumes that they already comply with court orders for information from individual accounts. The direct access is what is new and shocking.
Yes but there are plausible ways to deny "direct access" that do not inconvenience the USG. They just need something they can point to to defend this statement, they don't actually have to have any meaningful obstruction.
I think that everybody assumes that they already comply with court orders for information from individual accounts. The direct access is what is new and shocking.
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-n...