An article on CNET News.com today raises an interesting question: It’s a given that some companies cooperated with the National Security Agency (NSA) in their secret spying initiative, but which ones?A number of early reports cited executives at “major telecommunications companies” who opened their networks to the NSA, but because the legality of such cooperation is still murky, no company has stepped forward and admitted participation.A survey of telecom companies by CNET News.com has identified 15 large telecom and Internet companies who said that they did not participate in the spying, and 12 that declined to comment, in some instances citing “national security.”CNET News.com notes that there are a number of reasons why one of these 12 companies may have chosen not to respond, beside the obvious, such as an overworked media department or the company’s attorneys weren’t available for counsel. The survey found that cable companies and wireless provides had the greatest likelihood of distancing themselves from the NSA. Cingular Wireless, Comcast and Cox Communications all said they had not turned over information or made their networks available to the NSA.The survey also found that companies who operate undersea communications cables, a.k.a., backbone providers, were the least likely to respond to CNET News.com. AT&T, Cable & Wireless, Global Crossing, and NTT Communications, among others, all refused to answer CNET News.com’s questions. The article is the first in a two-part series. The second installment will run on CNET News.com tomorrow.Keep checking in at our CSO Security Feed page for updated news coverage. Related content news analysis DHS unveils one common platform for reporting cyber incidents Ahead of CISA cyber incident reporting regulations, DHS issued a report on harmonizing 52 cyber incident reporting requirements, presenting a model common reporting platform that could encompass them all. By Cynthia Brumfield Sep 25, 2023 10 mins Regulation Regulation Regulation news Chinese state actors behind espionage attacks on Southeast Asian government The distinct groups of activities formed three different clusters, each attributed to a specific APT group. By Shweta Sharma Sep 25, 2023 4 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks feature How to pick the best endpoint detection and response solution EDR software has emerged as one of the preeminent tools in the CISO’s arsenal. Here’s what to look for and what to avoid when choosing EDR software. By Linda Rosencrance Sep 25, 2023 10 mins Intrusion Detection Software Security Monitoring Software Data and Information Security feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Data and Information Security IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe