Microsoft responds to NSA controversy: We're not spying on you

Earlier this year Microsoft and other tech giants similar Google, Apple tree, and Facebook were accused of giving the government backstairs access to their systems. The plan, in performance since 2007, is chosen PRISM and is operated by The states National Security Agency. Recent leaks by Edward Snowden revealed a relationship that has been in place for quite some fourth dimension. Microsoft in particular has been singled out in regards to Skype communications allegedly being available to the government. All companies involved have denied giving the government direct access.

In a recent blog post, Microsoft goes on the offensive and responds to the result around authorities demands for your information. Here is what is currently going down.

Companies similar Microsoft, Google, Apple and Facebook all know quite a bit about you. Right now everything we know about how these companies work with the authorities is based off of leaked slides and insider information. If you lot've been following the news you lot'll know that all of this is terrible printing for any company involved and they've been quick to distance themselves from accusations regarding your data. However, they haven't been able to actually tell us much nigh the program across vague PR speak. It could be because the authorities is stopping them.

On June 19, Microsoft filed a petition in court to obtain permission to publish the volume of national security requests they've received. Simply the Government and lawyers representing the government have all the same to reply to the request. A request that would give information to the public that Microsoft believes is guaranteed to you by the U.Southward. Constitution. Today they've asked the Attorney General of the United States to personally take action to allow both Microsoft and others to share information around the upshot.

The following is what Microsoft can currently (and apparently legally) tell u.s.a. at the moment environment various properties involved with accusations. What has been reported and then far by the media (again, from within sources) is apparently inaccurate according to Microsoft.

Outlook / Hotmail

Microsoft does not provide the regime with direct access to emails or instant messages. They only plough over content for specific accounts according to lawful demands from governments. This applies to both the United states and any country that Microsoft stores information. They receive demands, review them, and if needed will comply. They provide no technical capability for governments to admission your data.

SkyDrive

Same situation with Outlook applies for SkyDrive. In that location is not direct government access, instead if they want data they must request it in manners consistent with the law.

Skype Calls

No, the record is not on echo, but Microsoft treats your data fairly similar across the board. If a authorities wants your Skype data they must request it within lawful means. Last twelvemonth Skype started the transition to thousands of Linux boxes to human action equally the supernode. That move was not in response to giving the Government easier access to your calls, messages, or other data.

Enterprise Email and Document Storage

If Microsoft receives a request from a government for data held by a business customer they take the necessary steps to redirect them to the customer directly. Again, following only legal paths and not giving straight access to whatsoever government.

Hither are the message points that Microsoft outlined that they want you to have home with their bulletin.

Microsoft does not provide any government with straight and unfettered access to our client's information. Microsoft only pulls and and then provides the specific data mandated by the relevant legal need.
If a regime wants customer data – including for national security purposes – information technology needs to follow applicable legal process, significant it must serve us with a court order for content or subpoena for business relationship information.
Nosotros only respond to requests for specific accounts and identifiers. At that place is no blanket or indiscriminate admission to Microsoft'south customer data. The aggregate data we accept been able to publish shows conspicuously that only a tiny fraction – fractions of a pct – of our customers have ever been subject area to a authorities demand related to criminal law or national security.
All of these requests are explicitly reviewed by Microsoft's compliance team, who ensure the request are valid, reject those that are non, and brand sure we only provide the data specified in the social club. While we are obligated to comply, we continue to manage the compliance process by keeping track of the orders received, ensuring they are valid, and disclosing only the data covered by the order.

This is going to be a situation of "he said, she said" for quite some time betwixt all these companies and the NSA. What's your take on all this? Does this official response from Microsoft at-home your fears a petty? Who is ultimately responsible here? Microsoft or the NSA? Sound off below.

Source: Microsoft

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