EU laws are directives, which must be converted into law in each country. So, it really depends on the wording of the law in each country. In my country (Portug

EU laws are directives, which must be converted into law in each country. So, it really depends on the wording of the law in each country. In my country (Portugal), if Microsoft were to comply with the US court and send information from Portuguese datacenters over to the US, they would be in violation of the privacy law. The penalty varies, usually it is just a fine and compensation to the information owner. In severe cases, however, the law allows for mandatory removal of the data stores, effectively prohibiting Microsoft from operating the service in the country. Not that I imagine the full penalty ever being applied. It never happened to anyone yet, and Portugal is strangely in bed with the US [1]. [1] The guy on the left in the picture is the then prime minister, when Bush was drumming the drums of war onto Iraq; photo taken at the military base in Azores. He later became president of the European Commission: http://imagens6.publico.pt/imagens.aspx/227656?tp=UH&db=IMAGENS http://imagens6.publico.pt/imagens.aspx/227656?tp=UH&db=IMAG...