An alternative line of thought is, making the right noises for the customers while also keeping the bribe budgets liquid, to put it crassly.

Putting my security researcher hat on, maybe this tiny little group's purpose is to figure out and get intel on what directions customers are actually looking in, so they know where to hide stuff.

Not comfortable talk, I know. I'm inspired by http://video.fosdem.org/2014/Janson/Sunday/NSA_operation_ORC... (46:05, well worth watching; 357MB)