Leaked documents reveal Microsoft's collaboration with NSA

[Jesse]

A new set of documents released by Edward Snowden reveal that Microsoft has worked closely with U.S. intelligence agencies to allow for interception of communications and circumvention of corresponding encryption.

The documents obtained by the Guardian detail the deep reach granted to the U.S. government into Microsoft systems.

The highlights of the document include:

• Efforts Microsoft underwent to assist the NSA in circumventing encryption on the new Outlook.com portal.
• Pre-encryption access to email on Outlook.com and Hotmail.com email services.
• Collaboration with the FBI in 2013 to grant the NSA easier access to SkyDrive through the PRISM program.
• Microsoft’s assistance in helping the FBI’s Data Intercept Unit navigate potential issues with Outlook.com email aliases.
• The NSA reported that following Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype, Skype video call data collection through PRISM tripled.
• PRISM data is often shared between government agencies, including the FBI and CIA. The document referred to the program as a “team sport.”

The Guardian points out that Microsoft’s recent marketing campaign uses the slogan: “Your privacy is our priority,” and Skype’s privacy policy includes the statement: "Skype is committed to respecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal data, traffic data and communications content."

It appears that Microsoft’s commitment to user privacy only extends as far as it is legally allowed to disclose.

In a statement on its website, Microsoft denied granting direct access to their systems, and reiterated that they only provide data in response to orders concerning specific accounts.

“We only ever comply with orders about specific accounts or identifiers, and we would not respond to the kind of blanket orders discussed in the press over the past few weeks, as the volumes documented in our most recent disclosure clearly illustrate.”

It’s not clear how accurate the information coming from the leaked documents is, nor do we know if Microsoft can legally disclose the full extent of their cooperation with the government. Microsoft certainly would like us to believe that the NSA’s access is limited.

“To be clear, Microsoft does not provide any government with blanket or direct access to SkyDrive, Outlook.com, Skype or any Microsoft product.”

Much of Silicon Valley is petitioning the government for more transparency. Until they concede, it will remain difficult to fully understand the extent of U.S. government agency reach into private data streams.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/53210-leaked-documents-reveal-microsofts-collaboration-with-nsa.html

 

[roxxas2]

Microsoft isn't the only company that's doing this. There are tons of others.

 

[mario]

Microsoft isn't the only company that's doing this. There are tons of others.

That doesn't make it OK

 

[m4a4]

I'd expect all big American corporations to be in compliance with the NSA to this extent (not because they want to be, but because of the legality).
MS just so happens to be one of the ones that has a bigger reach in the digital market and more "useful" resources. So it doesn't surprise me...

As for if it's ok, that's another topic (Where the line is for privacy and national security?)

 

[roxxas2]

Microsoft isn't the only company that's doing this. There are tons of others.

That doesn't make it OK

Of COURSE it's not okay. Even Microsoft probably doesn't want this to happen, but that's the government for you, man. They get what they want because they can.

 

[Guest]

Whatever micro says is plain BS. Wouldn't trust them at all. They simply spy on you because in return gov. rewards them with some exemptions. Two way deal.

 

[Nobina]

Doesn't matter if Microsoft is cooperating with NSA or not, why did they say that they are protecting our privacy and then did just completely the oppsite?

 

[cliffordcooley]

Like I said before, you are being spied on. Jumping ship and going to another service is not avoiding anything.

I have a pretty good idea what needs to be done. The only question is when we the people, will be willing to make that step. It is considered treason for only one person, such as "Edward Snowden" making his move alone.

 

[lawfer]

Principle can only get you so far.

If the "law" is for MS to turn over information on per-account basis, either under subpoena or any government-like agreement, I can't expect them to not comply.

What is not OK is that such a "law" or retrieval system is in place. The government and the NSA should be held fully responsible, not the companies invariably subjected by them.

These companies are MS, Apple, Google, Yahoo!, AT&T, Verizon and so on. Using Gmail instead of Outlook, or Steam instead of Amazon won't change a thing if all of these companies are "legally" mandated to comply.

 

[Guest]

The problem is that the country is rotten and corrupt down to its very core.

For a country with a population that rules over so much weaponry, amazingly

few people from neither the government or any of the other corrupt organizations

are being shot. That's surprising really. Or perhaps it isn't. How much longer will people

accept being treated like ****?

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

Doesn't matter if Microsoft is cooperating with NSA or not, why did they say that they are protecting our privacy and then did just completely the oppsite?

Well... when a company says they're 'protecting your privacy' a lot of that protection is from criminals after your personal information. There isn't really a point to hiding your social security number or credit info from the government when you think about it.

If MS is responding to direct questions about specific accounts, why are we assuming it's bad? Do you think a suspect in an Amber alert should have their email protected? What about Treyvon Martin? Should the govt be able to access his phone records and present it as evidence in his murder trial?

Not trying to disagree with everyone here, but wouldn't it be helpful if say the govt was legally allowed to access GPS records of smartphones in missing persons cases?

And that's why this is the most important line of the story..

Until they concede, it will remain difficult to fully understand the extent of U.S. government agency reach into private data streams.

 

[psycros]

Doesn't matter if Microsoft is cooperating with NSA or not, why did they say that they are protecting our privacy and then did just completely the oppsite?

Well... when a company says they're 'protecting your privacy' a lot of that protection is from criminals after your personal information. There isn't really a point to hiding your social security number or credit info from the government when you think about it.

If MS is responding to direct questions about specific accounts, why are we assuming it's bad? Do you think a suspect in an Amber alert should have their email protected? What about Treyvon Martin? Should the govt be able to access his phone records and present it as evidence in his murder trial?

Not trying to disagree with everyone here, but wouldn't it be helpful if say the govt was legally allowed to access GPS records of smartphones in missing persons cases?

And that's why this is the most important line of the story..

Until they concede, it will remain difficult to fully understand the extent of U.S. government agency reach into private data streams.

Law enforcement already has all of the powers that you describe and far more. The real problem with Microsoft's position is that they *lied* to us. If the NSA is requiring them to not only help spy on their users but to LIE to us about it, then we have a big, BIG problem. I strongly recommend everyone start using private VPN services combined with another encryption layer such as TOR.

 

[Guest]

So, Microsoft, is this your "least untruthful" explanation?

This is more about business than the law, although the "law" (such as it is these days) affords companies like Microsoft "plausible deniability". But all the companies handing boatloads of personal info over to the government are simply cowtowing to their biggest customer. If these companies truly cared about their customer's privacy they could easily bring a collective push-back against the government... with the added force of a majority of Americans. Instead, they give the spies whatever they want... and continue to cash the checks.

 

[Guest]

Notice to all that are concerned about their "privacy".... no one gives a damn about your emails to your mistress, your barber, your gossip, or your life. Sorry, you just are not that important.

 

[Nobina]

Notice to all that are concerned about their "privacy".... no one gives a damn about your emails to your mistress, your barber, your gossip, or your life. Sorry, you just are not that important.

If it involves them and their emails, they are important, and they should have a say in it.

 

[ragreeen2646]

US citizens through their representatives allowed these laws to be passed. The question is whether these laws thwarted terrorist attacks and are we (US citizens) willing to give up our privacy for more security.
Instead of whining, US citizens either accept the fact or demand your representatives rescind the law.
If you are nor a US citizen, then you have to make sure your government demands of the US the level of privacy you wish to have. The odds are that non-US governments are probably doing the same thing.

 

[AidanCheddar]

Notice to all that are concerned about their "privacy".... no one gives a damn about your emails to your mistress, your barber, your gossip, or your life. Sorry, you just are not that important.

Then why spy on us at all?

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

The problem is that the country is rotten and corrupt down to its very core.

For a country with a population that rules over so much weaponry, amazingly

few people from neither the government or any of the other corrupt organizations

are being shot. That's surprising really. Or perhaps it isn't. How much longer will people

accept being treated like ****?

It's not just the country that's rotten to the core, It's the entire world that's rotten to the core.

 

[cuerdc]

Wouldn't surprise me if they were given full access to windows so they could monitor any programming or change anything they wanted without you knowing about like the stuxnet virus.

 

[Loukin]

I remember when Bill Gates refuse to implement back doors in Windows for the government. What is happening over at Microsoft?

 

[Nobina]

I remember when Bill Gates refuse to implement back doors in Windows for the government. What is happening over at Microsoft?

They don't wanna take risks, they can't go against rules.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

Notice to all that are concerned about their "privacy".... no one gives a damn about your emails to your mistress, your barber, your gossip, or your life. Sorry, you just are not that important.

It's painfully obvious that you are oblivious to what the mafia has been up to lately. You may know them better by their euphemistic stage name as the I.R.S. They do care about your life. They care about your life WAY more than you can imagine. They care about your life so much they fought with all their might to get you free health care. That's how much they care about you. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling every time I think about it. They want to control your *** from the cradle to your grave. And that means knowing everything about you that can be used to their advantage.

If you can't see that the abuse of knowledge the I.R.S. has engaged in, that is, in the specific targeting of political groups, and that it is a serious problem and threatens democracy in every way, then you have a seriously bad case of myopia. Contact your nearest eye doctor for help.

Using knowledge to suppress one political party and advance another political party is a threat to all Americans. The politicians only give people what they want up to a certain point. The "free" stuff will eventually run out. And then the government will turn on your *** faster than you know what hit you.47% of Americans are dependent on the government. And when your a dependent, your *** is gonna do what they say. You can't bite the hand that feeds you, otherwise you'll starve to death.

 

[Guest]

Watch the documentary The Corporation nation.

85% of Microsoft stock is owned by the government and the government is owned by the people who owned the central bank.

Yes The Federal Reserve is a privately owned bank. Not a part of the government.

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

-- Thomas Jefferson

 

[mario]

85% of Microsoft stock is owned by the government

This is definitely not true, if you post something like that you need a verifiable source but then again you post as Guest