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Microsoft Says US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Requests More Than Doubled (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on from the state-of-things dept.

Microsoft Corp says it received at least a thousand surveillance requests from the U.S. government that sought user content for foreign intelligence purposes during the first half of 2016. From a report: The amount, shared in Microsoft's biannual transparency report, was more than double what the company said it received under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) during the preceding six-month interval, and was the highest the company has listed since 2011, when it began tracking such government surveillance orders. The scope of spying authority granted to U.S. intelligence agencies under FISA has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks, sparked in part by evolving, unsubstantiated assertions from President Donald Trump and other Republicans that the Obama White House improperly spied on Trump and his associates.

42 comments

  1. This summary is schizophrenic by halivar · · Score: 3, Informative

    First half: We are totes spying.
    Second half: Claims of spying are unsubstantiated.

    1. Re:This summary is schizophrenic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The purpose is to show something unrelated and negative, then immediately shift to a comment about President Trump to establish some kind of false connection between the two. Bonus for throwing out words like "unsubstantiated assertions" and "scrutiny".

      It's basic persuasion.

      You literally have to read it over a couple of times to grasp that the article is really about President Obama's spying and has nothing to do with Trump.

    2. Re:This summary is schizophrenic by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 2

      You literally have to read it over a couple of times to grasp that the article is really about President Obama's spying and has nothing to do with Trump.

      Some might not want to remember who was in office in 2016.

    3. Re:This summary is schizophrenic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's called context. If you can't distinguish between differentiated and schizophrenic, it's hard to argue with you.

    4. Re:This summary is schizophrenic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They only want to remember the good stuff. The rest they just ignore. Flashback 2.0

  2. How much via telemetry by Alain+Williams · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How many of those FISA requests were satisfied via Microsoft's telemetry capabilities ? Ie extract stuff directly from the Win 10 PC and send to the USA government ? I doubt that we shall ever know.

    1. Re: How much via telemetry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Telemetry" IS spying. Do you think MS would allow me to install telemetry devices in their office? Would any intelligent person?

  3. Re:Microshaft Internut Exploiter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I donated to the terrorists. Someone has to

  4. Obama didn't abuse any of this power by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Susan Rice said so!

    And Syria also gave up all their chemical weapons back in 2013!

    1. Re:Obama didn't abuse any of this power by fredrated · · Score: 0

      If you are so concerned about Syria get your gun and go over there.

    2. Re:Obama didn't abuse any of this power by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      Should we all be concerned you have nothing against using nerve gas on scores of children?

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    3. Re:Obama didn't abuse any of this power by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's assuming Syria did it. Russia's claim that they bombed a rebel chemical weapons cache makes much more sense. The Don just fell back on "think of the children" and fired away.

    4. Re:Obama didn't abuse any of this power by fredrated · · Score: 1

      Are drone killings OK with you? I am just as concerned about thousands of innocent people killed in our drone attacks. Let's pull the beam out of our own eye before worrying about the splinter in our neighbors.

    5. Re:Obama didn't abuse any of this power by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      children

      Appeal to feelz. -10 points.

      Get your gun and head on over, if you want people to die so you can feel good.

  5. PEEPIN BARRY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Just good ole' Peepin Barry and his buddies. Nothing to see here.

    1. Re:PEEPIN BARRY by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      I went to the Internet to look for images that matched the term "PEEPIN BARRY", a natural fit for a vein of hilarious images.

      All that came up were a bunch of images from The Flash! Come on, Internet.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  6. Zee Russians, boss, zee Russians... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

    Let's not forget the British spying on the Trump campaign.

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/british-spies-reportedly-warned-u-s-trump-russia-link-2015-article-1.3054332

    1. Re:Zee Russians, boss, zee Russians... by rholtzjr · · Score: 1

      That has already been deemed (in their words) "utterly ridiculous" and they do not have the capability......... And we believe that as much as the US three letter acronyms do not spy on their own citizens either (insert sarcasm here) or cause political unrest in countries they want to change.

    2. Re:Zee Russians, boss, zee Russians... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      That has already been deemed [...]

      Obviously, no one wants to admit to committing treason.

    3. Re:Zee Russians, boss, zee Russians... by GiordyS · · Score: 1

      Utterly ridiculous you say?

      http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04...

    4. Re:Zee Russians, boss, zee Russians... by fredrated · · Score: 1

      Did you read the article you link to? They were spying on the Russians when they intercepted communications from the Trump campaign. This hardly constitutes spying on Trump.

    5. Re:Zee Russians, boss, zee Russians... by GiordyS · · Score: 1

      "passed Trump associates' communications with Russians on to US counterparts"

      See that part you missed?

      You think they were passing unmasked Trump communications to Obama for legitimate reasons? That's quite an assumption. Regardless, I thought it was denied that the British passed ANY Trump communications to Obama administration. Did they pass it to the NSA or directly to the Whitehouse? Lots and lots of questions.

      But the pattern is consistent - first deny that anything happened at all. Then admit something DID happen but it wasn't improper. The next stage isn't pretty (and we're almost there) since it appears Obama admin used the intel community against political opponents. That's something police state authoritarian dictators do. And if Obama can do it... so can Trump. If only Republicans are upset about this and nothing gets fixed... good luck next election!!

  7. Pointless Political Jab by OYAHHH · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There really was no reason to include the Trump jab in the summary. If you look at the article the summary could have easily stopped at the paragraph prior to the one including the Trump jab.

    Based upon the comments I am seeing here it has skewed the commentary in a direction that doesn't add to the discussion.

    --
    Caution: Contents under pressure
    1. Re:Pointless Political Jab by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      having no *reason* to do something against Trump has never, ever stopped the visceral hatemongers from having the *desire* to - and, since that desire is so much a part of their very being, I think they just can't help it any more. Lack of self awareness and all, you know the drill.

      I'm starting to give limited free passes to the hate-flingers. I might give them a nod of recognition perhaps, but then it's just pity, and I move on. Every once in awhile you get someone who actually forms a complete cause-and-effect thought, and that's worth paying attention to...but much too often it's just debased circular reasoning. I used to like the game of argument...but it's hard to find an actual argument any more.

    2. Re:Pointless Political Jab by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Based upon the comments I am seeing here it has skewed the commentary in a direction that doesn't add to the discussion.

      Well. It sure adds comments. And thus page-views. And thus ad impressions. And there you have it. Probably intentional. You have been trolled.

    3. Re:Pointless Political Jab by guises · · Score: 1

      It seems like a pretty standard bit, attempting to add some context. Journalists often add some extra stuff in - ideally this is there to bring the uninformed up to speed, sometimes it's about adding detail to allow the reader to more closely relate to the subject (how often do you an article mention a person's age and occupation in contexts where those things are meaningless?), sometimes it's just there to fill some words.

      It's possible that this journalist was taking advantage of the opportunity to take a shot at Trump, but even if they weren't there would have been something there about FISA scrutiny.

  8. More than doubled? Thanks Trump! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Oh wait....

  9. MSFT Spies more; Govts want that data by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    MSFT Spies more; Govts want that data.

    Why is anyone surprised?

    1. Re:MSFT Spies more; Govts want that data by HiThere · · Score: 1

      I think here we have the correct reading.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  10. Wonder how many came @ our request? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Wonder how many came @ our request (I.E. from US agencies asking for "intelligence sharing" to beat US rules)? E.G. - CIA (not supposed to do domestic US citizen surveillance) nor is the NSA (gov't. communique only domestically iirc ONLY w/ DOD)!

    Iirc, neither is supposed to spy on regular non-gov't. US folks (yet they do w/ their datafarm attached @ every telecom chokepoint)...

    I.E. - Are they simply asking GCHQ "spy on these US folks for us & 'share it' w/ us, please - thanks"??

    Bet they are.

    * What a CROCK OF CRAP designed to beat rules that are in place for a GOOD reason... & using "added rules" from "secret courts" to do it + WORST OF ALL, on their OWN, in us. That tells ME they are afraid folks are going to "revolt" & they are profiling them for it.

    Nobody wants a revolt. They only want our jobs back, no more wars sticking our noses in other nations wasting our tax dollars etc.! Fix problems HERE before you tell another man how to live in HIS house (f'd up or not, off OUR borders how THEY run things is THEIR business (not ours, & screw the OIL barons like Tillerson now calling the shots that way)).

    APK

    P.S.=> This world we live in is 1 FUCKED UP PLACE imo - how about you folks - feel the same way? apk

    1. Re: Wonder how many came @ our request? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I stopped caring. All you can do is laugh at the world and worry about yourself only. If they come knocking at your door to interfere with your life, just punch them.

  11. Re:This summary is not schizophrenic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    shifting from one set of lies to another set of lies doesn't help your point.

  12. New Windows 10 XKeyScore Module by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fits in well.

  13. at least their asking? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    instead of just taking it illegally like they did before?(and in some cases are likely still doing...)

  14. During the FIRST HALF OF 2016? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > First half: Trump is spying

    So you're telling us that Trump was in power during the first half of 2016?

  15. Re:This summary is not schizophrenic by HiThere · · Score: 0

    The summary didn't say anything about Trump. You need to check your glasses prescription. Well...except that Trump accused Obama of spying on him, which *seems* to be unrelated to the article which only talks about foreign intelligence requests. Are you asserting that *that* means spying on Trump?

    --

    I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  16. Meanwhile, Linux surveillance requests... by TheOuterLinux · · Score: 1

    ...oh that's right. Never mind. Ha! ;)

  17. Re: This summary is not schizophrenic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The summary does indeed mention Trump, are you retarded good sir?