Microsoft denies claims that it has allowed the U.S National Security Agency to acquire data from their systems linked to Outlook.com.
Former CIA secret agent Edward Snowden, who has leaked details of several top secret U.S-British surveillance to the press, mentioned Microsoft as one of the companies who participated in the surveillance programs of the government. The international software corporation based in Washington was accused of giving the NSA permission to access sensitive information of its Outlook users without informing the owner. The details were revealed in a newsletter titled ‘Top Secret’ which came from Snowden himself.
The newsletter detailed how Microsoft worked with the NSA and FBI in gathering data from its Skydrive linked to Outlook.com. Skydrive is a service which allows users to store and sync files to a cloud storage which they can access using a different device while Outlook.com is a web email service with about 360 million users.
The software corporation defended itself on the accusations denying that they allowed the federal surveillance units to get information anytime they need it. They clarified that they allow such process only if there are legal issues involved which should have orders from the court.
The newsletter noted the FBI Data Intercept Technology Unit (DITU) division questioned Microsoft for having a feature in its Outlook service which allows users to create email aliases and another issue that they have been dealing with for several months already.
Microsoft is not the only company who was mentioned in the letter—Google, Facebook, and other internet companies—which has denied the accusation. This is a normal reaction because admitting it will result to loss of public trust.
Microsoft explained in a press release that, “When we upgrade or update products legal obligations may in some circumstances require that we maintain the ability to provide information in response to a law enforcement or national security request.”
