As NSA spying controversy gathered steam many of the large tech companies began to announce privacy protocols in order to quell public concern. Many of those companies would like you to think they have no working relationship with the NSA beyond the logistics associated with government data requests, but a recent series of emails obtained by Al Jazeera paint a little bit of a different picture.

The emails in question were those sent back and forth between Google chairman Eric Schmidt and National Security Agency Director General Keith Alexander (seen above) regarding security meetings (seen below). Another email discussion between Alexander and Google's co-founder Sergey Brin was also obtained. The messages show a much closer and cooperative relationship between the individuals than some may have thought and mention that other major tech companies, primarily Apple and Microsoft, were also involved in the same and similar meetings.

According to reports the two emails have been cleared for public release by the NSA as part of a Freedom of Information Act request, so there isn't any groundbreaking new revelations here, but it's clear that the major tech companies were all happily meeting with the NSA and more than likely on a regular basis.

Ever since Snowden came out with classified information regarding NSA spying operations, tech companies who have cooperated with NSA requests have vehemently insisted they have only done so when forced to by a court of law. But as Al Jazeera points out, the emails are dated about a year previous to Snowden making headlines, suggesting that cooperation between the agency and the tech companies has not been entirely based on pressure.