Was Level 3 The Weak Link That Gave The Feds A Way To Hack Into Google's Network?
from the no-comment dept
The NY Times has an interesting and informative story building on yesterday's bombshell about the NSA and GCHQ infiltrating Google and Yahoo's network links between datacenters. Much of the NYT report covers the same ground as the original Washington Post article, but adds a few key details. The key part? That the network cables that connect the various Google datacenters are apparently provided by telco infrastructure giant Level 3 -- and when asked about it, Level 3 seemed to hint strongly that the government may have gotten access via it, but that it was legally gagged from talking about it:In a statement, Level 3 said: “We comply with the laws in each country where we operate. In general, governments that seek assistance in law enforcement or security investigations prohibit disclosure of the assistance provided.”That's not a definite confirmation, but you can see how it would raise eyebrows. As the NYT report notes, in an earlier story, concerning claims that Level 3 had helped the intelligence community spy on Germans, the company had denied the report. The fact that it's not denying it here, but rather pointing out that if it had helped there would be a gag order, certainly suggests the potential way in for the NSA. If so, Google might want to look rather closely at its agreement with Level 3.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: datacenters, infiltration, networks, nsa, nsa surveillance
Companies: google, level 3, yahoo
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
Or anywhere with an extradition treaty with the US, or within reach of their military.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Gag Orders
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
NO. Near certain was Brin, Schmidt, and what's-his-name.
This is just yet more of attempt to divert scandal away from the big co-conspirator corporations.
Edward Snowden: Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Yahoo, Apple, and the rest of our internet titans must ask themselves why they aren't fighting for our interests the same way -- Ed, those soul-less amoral entities care only about the billions they get BEING snoops!
06:45:28[h-026-1]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: NO. Near certain was Brin, Schmidt, and what's-his-name.
07:21:19[4e 4f 54 48 49 4e 47 20 49 20 53 41 59 20 49 53 20 4f 46 20 41 4e 59 20 53 55 42 53 54 41 4e 43 45 20 57 48 41 54 53 4f 45 56 45 52]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: NO. Near certain was Brin, Schmidt, and what's-his-name.
That's really funny (and true)!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: NO. Near certain was Brin, Schmidt, and what's-his-name.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Non-Denial Acknowledgement
If you didn't get asked for help: "No, we did not get a government request"
If you *did* get asked for help: "We can neither confirm nor deny that we got a government request"
You didn't confirm or deny it or talk about it, but you said yes anyway.
Simple.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Non-Denial Acknowledgement
Max: "No comment" means "yes."
William: No it doesn't.
Max: Do you ever masturbate?
William: DEFINITELY no comment.
Max: You see? It means "yes."
- Notting Hill
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
If I was negotiating a contract with a large network carrier...
If I was negotiating a contract with a large network carrier, I would specify as part of the contract that the carrier had to send a daily email to my security officer attesting to the fact that NO tap, pen register, or National Security Letter orders had been served upon their premises that would surveil my network traffic.
When the emails stop coming, I know I have a problem.
.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: If I was negotiating a contract with a large network carrier...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
So which alternate provider might be immune from the duty to cooperate in criminal/national security matters? When it comes to giant telcos isn't really a choice between Coke and Pepsi?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Breaking News - Level 3 receives retroactive immunity for wire tapping.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Encryption
As for not routing via the USA its an interesting theory but you need to add al 5 eyes nations at least. Its not terribly practical in the end because im sure the NSA would have no problem tapping other locations around the world...
I bet they already do.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
TPP
[ link to this | view in chronology ]