Did MS Lobbying Stop NSA Work On SELinux?

inquisitive points to this CNET story on how George Wash Univ. may help Linux gain certification under the Common Criteria, certification required for software to be used in some sensitive government roles. In the same story, though, is an interesting quote from another effort at bringing GPL'd software to the public sector: "'We didn't fully understand the consequences of releasing software under the GPL (General Public License),' said Dick Schafer, deputy director of the NSA. 'We received a lot of loud complaints regarding our efforts with SE Linux.'" Sources familiar with events said that aggressive Microsoft lobbying efforts have contributed to a halt on any further work. 'Microsoft was worried that the NSA's releasing open-source software would compete with American proprietary software,' said a source familiar with the complaints against the NSA who asked not to be identified."

Comments

Ahh New America

[kenp2002]

It's good to see that we now live in a nation that fears competition, exhaults mediocrity, and rewards the foolish, corrupt, and wicked. Oh what a brave new world! Soma! Soma For All!

Welcome to hell.. The United Socialist States of America. I had hoped my kids whould have had the opportunity to grow up on the USA, looks like we lost the war for freedom.