Skype, The NSA, And Project Chess

Skype's Secret Project Chess Reportedly Helped NSA Access Customers' Data -- The Guardian

Scheme – set up before firm was purchased by Microsoft – allegedly eased access for US law enforcement agencies

Skype, the web-based communications company, reportedly set up a secret programme to make it easier for US surveillance agencies to access customers' information.

The programme, called Project Chess and first revealed by the New York Times on Thursday, was said to have been established before Skype was bought by Microsoft in 2011. Microsoft's links with US security are under intense scrutiny following the Guardian's revelation of Prism, a surveillance program run by the National Security Agency (NSA), that claimed "direct" access to its servers and those of rivals including Apple, Facebook and Google.

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More News On Skype, The NSA, And Project Chess

Project Chess: How U.S. Snoops On Your Skype -- Forbes
How Skype developed a secret program called 'Project Chess' to make it easier for law enforcement and government officials to spy on customers' data -- Daily Mail
Report: Skype Formed Secret “Project Chess” to Make Chats Available to Government -- Slate
Skype Project Chess allegedly explored NSA access ahead of Microsoft buy -- Slash Gear
REPORT: Skype Had A Secret Program Called 'Project Chess' To Help Intelligence Agencies Access Internet Calls -- Business Insider
Report: Skype set up Project Chess to enable official snooping -- Register
How Skype's Project Chess makes NSA snooping easier -- Examiner

My Comment: Skype is owned by Microsoft .... so one can only assume that all Microsoft products and services have the same arrangement with the NSA.