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Europe alarmed by US surveillance | Europe alarmed by US surveillance |
(35 minutes later) | |
The EU is demanding assurances that Europeans are not having their rights infringed by a massive US surveillance programme. | The EU is demanding assurances that Europeans are not having their rights infringed by a massive US surveillance programme. |
Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding plans to raise the concerns with US Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday. | Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding plans to raise the concerns with US Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday. |
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. | 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 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. |
More revelations promised | More revelations promised |
Mr Snowden's employer, defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, said on Tuesday it had fired the 29-year-old infrastructure analyst for violating its ethics code. | |
US officials say the snooping programme known as Prism, revealed in last week's leaks, is authorised under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa). | US officials say 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 Guardian and Washington Post newspapers claimed the US authorities had direct access to the servers of nine major US technology firms, including Apple, Facebook 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. |
Although the firms have denied granting such access, saying they agreed only to legal requests, US officials have admitted Prism exists. | |
'Traitor' | 'Traitor' |
One of the Guardian journalists who wrote the Prism stories, Glenn Greenwald, has promised "more significant revelations" to come. | |
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. |
Justice Commissioner Reding tweeted: "This case shows why a clear legal framework for the protection of personal data is not a luxury but a necessity." | Justice Commissioner Reding tweeted: "This case shows why a clear legal framework for the protection of personal data is not a luxury but a necessity." |
Mr Snowden is believed to be in hiding a day after he reportedly checked out of a Hong Kong hotel. | Mr Snowden is believed to be in hiding a day after he reportedly checked out of a Hong Kong hotel. |
In the US, Senator Dianne Feinstein, the chairwoman of the Senate intelligence committee, said the American authorities were "aggressively" pursuing him. | |
The California Democrat also accused Mr Snowden of "an act of treason". | |
The top Republican in the US House of Representatives, Speaker John Boehner, labelled Mr Snowden a "traitor". | 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. "And it's a giant violation of the law." | "The disclosure of this information puts Americans at risk," he told ABC News on Tuesday morning. "And it's a giant violation of the law." |
The government began wireless wiretapping after the 9/11 attacks, but the surveillance policy expanded under President Barack Obama. |