Microsoft's "Spy Guide" Handbook Leaked Online

Microsoft was yesterday fretting over a leaked document that the company clearly didn't want anyone reading.

Watchdog website Cryptome has posted Microsoft's 'Global Criminal Compliance Handbook' on its website and despite Microsoft's best efforts, the document remains online for the world to see.

The Criminal Compliance Handbook is more of a guide and is meant for law enforcement agencies that want to know what kind private data Microsoft stores and how they should go about requesting it.

CNet Cites Cryptome owner John Young who says he believes the documents that he publishes are indications that companies are bending over backwards to placate law enforcement officials because they're afraid of being targeted by them. Young says he feels that Microsoft's Surveillance Guide goes much further in holding the hands of law enforcement than the typical document. Mr Young claims the document, which he refers to as a Spy Guide, came from a Web site that specialized in training law enforcement.

Several news outlets report that yesterday afternoon Microsoft sent a take-down noticed to Cryptome asking that the site's owner, John Young, remove the document from Cryptome.org. Young refused and was sent a notice citing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by his host; Network Solutions said they would have to shut down his website if he did not remove the files and for a brief period, his website was unavailable.

Young has since posted an update to his site saying Microsoft has withdrawn its complaint and, at the time of writing, Redmond's "Global Criminal Compliance Handbook" is still available online.

If downloading the document isn't your thing, you can check it out here on Scribd (via Business Insider).