> I've always wondered whether Google ever digs into communications in a situation where they're trying to decide whether to acquire a company.
Go upstream to the Snowden 'allegations' and apply that idea to Lockheed Martin. They can get every government contract they want or whatever war they want because they know what their rivals bids are (because they built the NSA). Plus they run all of the computer security in D.C. and there is no way that any communication in 'elected government' misses their eyes.
Reading all gov't internal communication shouldn't be a master key to getting info on rival bids.
Even sloppy bidding processes in random third world countries include the concept of sealed bids - noone in government should have any info on any bid amounts before the bidding is closed; if Lockheed Martin wants to know my bid before making theirs, then they'd have to wiretap me.
Of course, there are many other options for fraud and espionage, but getting rival bid amounts before due time shouldn't be one of them.
Go upstream to the Snowden 'allegations' and apply that idea to Lockheed Martin. They can get every government contract they want or whatever war they want because they know what their rivals bids are (because they built the NSA). Plus they run all of the computer security in D.C. and there is no way that any communication in 'elected government' misses their eyes.