[ptwiggens]

NSL's come with a gag order. There wouldn't have been any backlash as no one would have known about it.

He shut it down because that was the only way to legally prevent the government from spying on his users.

[001sky]

Good point. While controversial, this is exactly why, too. (Fed's don't want to tip their hand).

[jaekwon]

Haven't NSL gag orders been found unconstitutional?

http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/privacy/309277-judge-says-fbi...

I wonder why he didn't challenge it.

[kaonashi]

Because challenging it from a solitary confinement cell might not sound that appealing.

[toyg]

Somebody running a service like Lavabit woild be a very motivated individual, civil disobedience was a real risk.