David Cameron makes veiled threat to media over NSA and GCHQ leaks
David Cameron makes veiled threat to media over NSA and GCHQ leaks
In a statement to MPs on Monday about last week’s European summit in Brussels, where he warned of the dangers of a “lah-di-dah, airy-fairy view” about the dangers of leaks, the prime minister said his preference was to talk to newspapers rather than resort to the courts. But he said it would be difficult to avoid acting if newspapers declined to heed government advice. The prime minister issued the warning after the Tory MP Julian Smith quoted a report in Monday’s edition of the Sun that said Britain’s intelligence agencies believed details from the NSA files leaked by the US whistleblower Edward Snowden had hampered their work. The Sun quoted a “top surveillance source” as saying that terrorists had “gone quiet” after the publication of details about NSA and GCHQ operations.
Europe mulls sanctions against US over spying
The United States could lose access to an important law enforcement tool used to track terrorist money flows, German officials said Monday, as Europe weighed a response to allegations that the Americans spied on their closest European allies.
“There is no need to be tolerant to the intolerant” — European Framework National Statute for the Promotion of Tolerance, Article 4 “The supra-national surveillance that it would imply would certainly be a dark day for European democracy.” — European Dignity Watch
US to ‘review’ spying activities amid European outrage
US President Barack Obama is calling for a review of his intelligence services, with their spying activities having caused an unprecedented rift with EU allies. Speaking to ABC News on Monday (28 October), Obama refused to give details on how much he knew about the illegal spying carried out by the National Security Agency and revealed by whistleblower Edward Snowden.
US spy policy: Pressure mounts on White House
Pressure is growing on the White House to explain US intelligence gathering and why President Barack Obama appeared not to know the extent of operations. The intelligence agency head and other officials are to testify before the House of Representatives later. And the chair of the Senate’s intelligence committee called for a “total review” of US spying programmes.
Obama ‘knew and approved’ NSA spying on Chancellor Merkel – report
Obama was aware of NSA spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel since 2010, German media have revealed. An NSA spokeswoman later denied the allegations. According to German Bild am Sonntag newspaper, which cited US intelligence sources, National Security Agency chief Keith Alexander briefed Obama on the bugging operation against Merkel in 2010.