Ralf Bendrath (bendrath@zedat.fu-berlin.de), 06.10.06:

Sure. The NSA even developed its own version of a "Security-Enhanced Linux" (SELinux), which they of course have to give away under the GPL.

See http://www.wired.com/news/linux/0,1411,53004,00.html

They didn't *have* to give it away, I think (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCGPLRequireSourcePostedPublic). On the other hand, they did seem to feel that doing so corresponded to their mandate ("part of its Information Assurance mission"). cheers Bram