PARIS (AFP) - A French intelligence report today accused US secret agents
of working with computer giant Microsoft to develop software allowing
Washington to spy on communications around the world.
The report, drawn up by the Strategic Affairs Delegation (DAS), the
intelligence arm of the French Defence Ministry, was quoted in today's
edition of the news-letter Le
Monde du Renseignement (Intelligence World). Written by a senior officer
at the DAS, the report claims agents from the National Security Agency (NSA)
helped install secret programmes on Microsoft software, currently in use in
90 per cent of computers.
According to the report there was a 'strong
suspicion' of a lack of security fed by insistent rumours about the
existence of spy programs on Microsoft, and by the presence of NSA personnel
in Bill Gates' development teams. The NSA protects communications for the
US government, and also intercepts electronic messages for the Defence
Department and other US intelligence agencies, the newsletter said.
According to the report, 'it would seem that the creation of Microsoft was
largely supported, not least financially, by the NSA, and that IBM was made
to accept the (Microsoft) MS-DOS operating system by the same
administration.' The report claimed the Pentagon was Microsoft's biggest
client in the world.
Back to European News Menu
Back Main News Menu
Back to www.davidicke.com
About this Site, Our Parameters and
How to Submit a News Item to us
