Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Yahoo followed government demands and built software to secretly spy on its users' email accounts. Now, the maligned purple giant is asking the government to declassify the alleged order in the name of transparency.

Ron Bell, Yahoo's general counsel, submitted the request yesterday in the form of a letter to James Clapper, the country's Director of National Intelligence. It asked Clapper's office to confirm whether the order exists; to declassify it entirely or in part; and to offer up a public explanation to "clarify the alleged facts and circumstances."