Does the US have juristriction over the whole world?

[Mary Hawking]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/25/ms_threatens_au_gov_over_ehealth/ 

Does anyone know about this - and whether it is true?
Apparently it is Microsoft's view that requiring data to be held within a
national boundary is a breach of WTO regulations - and, worryingly, that any
data held by any organisation which trades with the US is subject to US law.

"Any company with a presence in the United States of America (not just those
with headquarters or subsidiaries in that country) may be legally required
to respond to a valid demand from the United States Government for
information the company retains custody over or controls, regardless of
where the data is stored or the existence of any conflicting obligations
under the laws of the country where the data is located," the submission
states

Could any other country pass similar legislation?
What would happen if, say, Russia or China passed similar legislation: would
Microsoft be obliged to release the information they held in the USA?

Mary Hawking
"thinking - independent thinking - is to humans as swimming is to cats: we
can do it if we really have to."  Mark Earles on Radio 4.  



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