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EU wants clarity on US data snooping | EU wants clarity on US data snooping |
(35 minutes later) | |
The EU will demand assurances that Europeans are not having their rights infringed by a massive surveillance programme run by the US. | The EU will demand assurances that Europeans are not having their rights infringed by a massive surveillance programme run by the US. |
Health Commissioner Tonio Borg said the EU wanted a "clear commitment" from the US to respect data-protection rights. | Health Commissioner Tonio Borg said the EU wanted a "clear commitment" from the US to respect data-protection rights. |
Last week a series of leaks by a former CIA worker led to claims the US had a vast surveillance network with much less oversight than previously thought. | |
The US insists its snooping is legal under domestic law. | |
The Obama administration is investigating whether the disclosures by former CIA worker Edward Snowden were a criminal offence. | The Obama administration is investigating whether the disclosures by former CIA worker Edward Snowden were a criminal offence. |
'Traitor' | 'Traitor' |
Officials says the snooping programme known as Prism, revealed in last week's leaks, is authorised under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa). | Officials says the snooping programme known as Prism, revealed in last week's leaks, is authorised under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa). |
It gives the US National Security Agency (NSA) the power to obtain emails and phone records relating to non-US nationals. | It gives the US National Security Agency (NSA) the power to obtain emails and phone records relating to non-US nationals. |
But details about the individuals targeted under the act remain secret, and there are concerns the NSA is overstepping its powers. | But details about the individuals targeted under the act remain secret, and there are concerns the NSA is overstepping its powers. |
Documents leaked to the Washington Post and Guardian newspapers claimed the US authorities had direct access to the servers of major US technology firms such as Apple and Google. | |
Mr Snowden told the Guardian that individual operatives had the power to tap into anyone's emails at any time. | Mr Snowden told the Guardian that individual operatives had the power to tap into anyone's emails at any time. |
In the US, the controversy has focused on the possibility that conversations of US citizens may inadvertently be captured. | In the US, the controversy has focused on the possibility that conversations of US citizens may inadvertently be captured. |
But overseas, governments and activists point out that US law provides foreigners with no protection. | But overseas, governments and activists point out that US law provides foreigners with no protection. |
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said she would raise concerns in a meeting with US Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday. | EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said she would raise concerns in a meeting with US Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday. |
"This case shows why a clear legal framework for the protection of personal data is not a luxury but a necessity," she wrote on Twitter. | "This case shows why a clear legal framework for the protection of personal data is not a luxury but a necessity," she wrote on Twitter. |
Mr Borg said in a statement that the EU wanted clarity on whether the US authorised bulk transfers of data, or only data on specific individuals. | Mr Borg said in a statement that the EU wanted clarity on whether the US authorised bulk transfers of data, or only data on specific individuals. |
"The [Justice] Commission is asking for clear commitments from the United States as to the respect of the fundamental right of EU citizens to data protection," he said. | "The [Justice] Commission is asking for clear commitments from the United States as to the respect of the fundamental right of EU citizens to data protection," he said. |
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Mr Snowden are unknown - he was believed to be in hiding after reportedly checking out of a Hong Kong hotel on Monday. | |
Senator Dianne Feinstein, the chairwoman of the Senate intelligence committee, said US authorities were "aggressively" pursuing him. | Senator Dianne Feinstein, the chairwoman of the Senate intelligence committee, said US authorities were "aggressively" pursuing him. |
The California Democrat also accused the 29-year-old of "an act of treason". | The California Democrat also accused the 29-year-old of "an act of treason". |
The top Republican in the US House of Representatives, Speaker John Boehner, labelled Mr Snowden a "traitor". | |
"The disclosure of this information puts Americans at risk," he told ABC News on Tuesday morning. "It shows our adversaries what our capabilities are. And it's a giant violation of the law." | |
US officials admitted the existence of Prism after the Washington Post and Guardian published slides from an apparently internal NSA presentation emblazoned with a Prism logo marked "top secret". | |
'Warrantless wiretaps' | 'Warrantless wiretaps' |
The presentation claimed that the NSA had "direct access" to the servers of various technology firms and could capture emails and other communication at will. | The presentation claimed that the NSA had "direct access" to the servers of various technology firms and could capture emails and other communication at will. |
US security officials said all requests for data were overseen by the Fisa court, and denied access had been given on that level. | US security officials said all requests for data were overseen by the Fisa court, and denied access had been given on that level. |
The firms named on the slide also denied giving such access, and said they agreed only to legal requests. | The firms named on the slide also denied giving such access, and said they agreed only to legal requests. |
The journalists involved in the story were first contacted by Mr Snowden at the start of the year. | The journalists involved in the story were first contacted by Mr Snowden at the start of the year. |
One of the Guardian journalists who wrote the Prism stories has promised more revelations to come. | |
"We are going to have a lot more significant revelations that have not yet been heard over the next several weeks and months," said Glenn Greenwald. | "We are going to have a lot more significant revelations that have not yet been heard over the next several weeks and months," said Glenn Greenwald. |
The first of the leaks came out on Wednesday night, when the Guardian reported phone company Verizon had been ordered to hand over the details of millions of calls. | The first of the leaks came out on Wednesday night, when the Guardian reported phone company Verizon had been ordered to hand over the details of millions of calls. |
The US surveillance programme has been the subject of controversy for years. | The US surveillance programme has been the subject of controversy for years. |
After the attacks on the US on 11 September 2001, the government began pushing for wider wiretap powers than those authorised under Fisa. | After the attacks on the US on 11 September 2001, the government began pushing for wider wiretap powers than those authorised under Fisa. |
It is thought the government engaged in hundreds of so-called warrantless wiretaps. | It is thought the government engaged in hundreds of so-called warrantless wiretaps. |
The surveillance programme was brought back under the power of Fisa in 2008 when the act was amended. | The surveillance programme was brought back under the power of Fisa in 2008 when the act was amended. |
US President Barack Obama has characterised the surveillance as a "modest encroachment" on privacy, needed to keep the US safe from terrorism. | US President Barack Obama has characterised the surveillance as a "modest encroachment" on privacy, needed to keep the US safe from terrorism. |