A federal appeals court has blocked, at least temporarily, the depositions of three high-level government officials in the Big Tech–government collusion case.
U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, who ordered the depositions, failed to consider whether different methods of obtaining the information sought is sufficient, the appeals court said in the Nov. 21 order.
“Thus, before any of the depositions may go forward, the district court must analyze whether the information sought can be obtained through less intrusive, alternative means, such as further written discovery or depositions of lower-ranking official,” a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said in the ruling. “Written findings as to the availability and sufficiency of alternatives need to be entered.”…