The issue is that the US law enforcement should use a foreign legal system to request legal assistance if they want to do a search in a foreign country, which would allow affected parties to use the local court system to defend themselves.

How would you (assuming you're american) feel if the english police entered your corporate office to seize documents and told you if you had issues you would have to deal with it in england?

That's how everyone else feels about the US thinking they have jurisdiction over their documents stored on some 3rd party providers which - under local laws - have obligations to maintain the customer's privacy.

I hadn't thought of that, thanks.

In the USA, they don't need a warrant for cloud data that is 6 months or older[0], even if it is "private"

0. http://www.bendbulletin.com/nation/2885941-151/no-warrant-ne...

If you are Chinese, it's probably not a good idea to use a Chinese email service (or any of the "joint ventures" between American companies and Chinese ones).

It goes the same for Americans. If you want privacy from the U.S. government, don't use American services, or U.S.-hosted services.

Check out the swiss Data Protection Act and the Data Protection Ordinance. The difference is HUGE even for swiss govs it is very hard to get swiss data. Outside govs basically have no chance except a few exceptions that are not as easy as shouting out "terrorism" loud once.