Early on in the Snowden leaks, it was revealed that Snowden himself was using email services from an operation called Lavabit, which offered extremely secure email. However, today Lavabit’s owner, Ladar Levison, shut down the service, claiming it was necessary to do so to avoid becoming “complicit in crimes against the American people.” Not much more information is given, other than announced plans to fight against the government in court. Reading between the lines, it seems rather obvious that Lavabit has been ordered to either disclose private information or grant access to its secure email accounts, and the company is taking a stand and shutting down the service while continuing the legal fight. It’s also clear that the court has a gag order on Levison, limiting what can be said.
via Ed Snowden’s Email Provider, Lavabit, Shuts Down To Fight US Gov’t Intrusion | Techdirt.
Now, if that weren’t enough, the Feds Threaten To Arrest Lavabit Founder For Shutting Down His Service, rather than agree to some mysterious court order.