Yahoo describes surveillance fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — Yahoo says the government threatened to fine the company $250,000 a day if it did not comply with demands to go along with an expansion of U.S. surveillance laws by surrendering online information, a step the company regarded as unconstitutional.

The outlines of Yahoo's secret and ultimately unsuccessful court fight against government surveillance emerged Thursday when a federal judge ordered the unsealing of some material about Yahoo's court challenge.

In a statement, Yahoo said the government amended a law to demand user information from online services, prompting a challenge in 2007.

The company said it is committed to protecting users' data and that it will continue to contest requests and laws that it considers unlawful, unclear or overly broad.