[na85]

>So we don't know for sure if the backdoors exist

Doesn't the NSA_High_Assurance_Platform bit or whatever it's called pretty much prove there's a backdoor?

edit: Here it is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Management_Engine#%22Hig...

Why would the NSA demand such a feature if they didn't foresee even a potential vulnerability there?

[scott00]

The NSA doesn't need to know a backdoor exists in order to worry about one. The ME is infrequently exercised code with a large attack surface and highly privileged access. If you are security conscious and don't need the functionality it's quite logical to want to turn it off, whether you're the NSA or anybody else.