What could possibly go wrong?
Microsoft has been using engineers in China to help maintain the Department of Defense’s computer systems — with minimal supervision by US personnel — leaving some of the nation’s most sensitive data vulnerable to hacking from China.
The arrangement, which was critical to Microsoft winning the federal government’s cloud computing business a decade ago, relies on US citizens with security clearances to oversee the work and serve as a barrier against espionage and sabotage.
But these workers, known as “digital escorts,” often lack the technical expertise to police foreign engineers with far more advanced skills. Some are former military personnel with little coding experience who are paid barely more than minimum wage for the work.
“We’re trusting that what they’re doing isn’t malicious, but we really can’t tell.”
The system has been in place for nearly a decade, though its existence is being reported publicly here for the first time.
propublica.org/article/micros
Microsoft has been using engineers in China to help maintain the Department of Defense’s computer systems — with minimal supervision by US personnel — leaving some of the nation’s most sensitive data vulnerable to hacking from China.
The arrangement, which was critical to Microsoft winning the federal government’s cloud computing business a decade ago, relies on US citizens with security clearances to oversee the work and serve as a barrier against espionage and sabotage.
But these workers, known as “digital escorts,” often lack the technical expertise to police foreign engineers with far more advanced skills. Some are former military personnel with little coding experience who are paid barely more than minimum wage for the work.
“We’re trusting that what they’re doing isn’t malicious, but we really can’t tell.”
The system has been in place for nearly a decade, though its existence is being reported publicly here for the first time.
propublica.org/article/micros