Or he just believed they were doing the right thing. It's a small company, and he presumably knows every employee personally. Maybe he delegated that task to someone he trusted. Or maybe he had no IT org at all, and it was being done by his engineering staff in their spare time.
My guess is that the BSA and marshals show up and either (1) ask permission to enter, telling Ball that, if he doesn't, his company will be reduced to a metaphorical ash heap; and he complies, (2) bring a warrant and tell him that he has no choice but to let them in. It's difficult to tell from the article whether (1) or (2) happened; however, I'm inclined to believe that it was (2) because, in my experience, US Marshals don't get involved unless they have a warrant to serve. Also, Ball's comments make it sound like it was involuntary. That could merely be his perception but that's the way it seems.
Well, #1 is a classic Hobson's choice, i.e. no choice at all, or a bad outcome no matter what you do.
But, I do appreciate you softening your declaratory tone and admitting that you really don't know. And, neither do I.
Not sure.
Neither am I. I'm still trying to figure out if the BSA actually has a legitimate process that only escalates to the "unannounced software audit" with gun-toting US Marshals if the target of the investigation is not cooperating. I was hoping that you knew or at least had a source that knew. Perhaps someone will eventually discover this thread and answer the question.