Concerning the report, Reddit founder and CEO Steve "Spez" Huffman remarks, "I've been advised not to say anything one way or the other." While that says a lot in itself, there's no way to officially confirm the request or, obviously, know what data the FBI, NSA or other agency asked for.

Such letters are legally controversial, because they allow the recipient very little judicial recourse. Recently, however, a judge released details from an FBI NSL for the first time. It was challenged by internet service provider Nicolas Merrill with, with help from the ACLU. "I've now been under a broad gag order for three years, and other NSL recipients have been silenced for even longer. At some point -- a point we passed long ago -- the secrecy itself becomes a threat to our democracy."