This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24617904
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Snowden leaks: US seeks to ease France spy anger | Snowden leaks: US seeks to ease France spy anger |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US has sought to ease French concerns over claims the US National Security Agency secretly recorded millions of phone calls in France. | The US has sought to ease French concerns over claims the US National Security Agency secretly recorded millions of phone calls in France. |
| President Barack Obama called French counterpart Francois Hollande to discuss the issue, while US Secretary of State John Kerry said France was "one of our oldest allies". | President Barack Obama called French counterpart Francois Hollande to discuss the issue, while US Secretary of State John Kerry said France was "one of our oldest allies". |
| President Hollande told the US leader of his "deep disapproval". | |
| Officials, businesses and terror suspects were tracked, it is claimed. | |
| The claims were carried in France's Le Monde newspaper and are based on leaks from US ex-intelligence analyst Edward Snowden. | The claims were carried in France's Le Monde newspaper and are based on leaks from US ex-intelligence analyst Edward Snowden. |
| 'Information gathering' | 'Information gathering' |
| A White House statement said the two presidents had discussed the latest disclosure, "some of which have distorted our activities and some of which raise legitimate questions for our friends and allies about how these capabilities are employed". | A White House statement said the two presidents had discussed the latest disclosure, "some of which have distorted our activities and some of which raise legitimate questions for our friends and allies about how these capabilities are employed". |
| It said: "President [Obama] made clear that the United States has begun to review the way that we gather intelligence, so that we properly balance the legitimate security concerns of our citizens and allies with the privacy concerns that all people share." | It said: "President [Obama] made clear that the United States has begun to review the way that we gather intelligence, so that we properly balance the legitimate security concerns of our citizens and allies with the privacy concerns that all people share." |
| For his part, President Hollande said such practices were "unacceptable between friends and allies because they infringe on the privacy of French citizens," and demanded "explanations" from Mr Obama, according to a statement issued by French presidency. | |
| Mr Kerry, who was in Paris to meet Arab League officials, said that the US would continue "bilateral consultations" to address the issue. | Mr Kerry, who was in Paris to meet Arab League officials, said that the US would continue "bilateral consultations" to address the issue. |
| "Protecting the security of our citizens in today's world is a very complicated, very challenging task... because there are lots of people out there seeking to do harm to other people," Mr Kerry said. | "Protecting the security of our citizens in today's world is a very complicated, very challenging task... because there are lots of people out there seeking to do harm to other people," Mr Kerry said. |
| In an earlier statement, National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said that "all nations" conducted spying operations. | In an earlier statement, National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said that "all nations" conducted spying operations. |
| "As a matter of policy we have made clear that the United States gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations," she said. | "As a matter of policy we have made clear that the United States gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations," she said. |
| Envoy summoned | Envoy summoned |
| Le Monde says the NSA spied on 70.3 million phone calls in France in just 30 days between 10 December last year and 8 January 2013. | Le Monde says the NSA spied on 70.3 million phone calls in France in just 30 days between 10 December last year and 8 January 2013. |
| The intercepts were apparently triggered by certain key words. | The intercepts were apparently triggered by certain key words. |
| The agency also apparently captured millions of text messages. | The agency also apparently captured millions of text messages. |
| It was unclear whether the content of the calls and messages was stored, or just the metadata - the details of who was speaking to whom. | It was unclear whether the content of the calls and messages was stored, or just the metadata - the details of who was speaking to whom. |
| And the paper did not say whether the operation, codenamed US-985D, was still in progress. | And the paper did not say whether the operation, codenamed US-985D, was still in progress. |
| France's foreign ministry summoned US ambassador Charles Rivkin over the allegations. | France's foreign ministry summoned US ambassador Charles Rivkin over the allegations. |
| The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says the outrage is largely for public consumption, because the French government has been accused of running its own snooping operation similar to the US. | The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says the outrage is largely for public consumption, because the French government has been accused of running its own snooping operation similar to the US. |
| Le Monde reported in July that the French government was storing vast amounts of personal data of its citizens on a supercomputer at the headquarters of the DGSE intelligence service. | Le Monde reported in July that the French government was storing vast amounts of personal data of its citizens on a supercomputer at the headquarters of the DGSE intelligence service. |
| The latest revelations follow claims in the German media that US agents hacked into the email account of former Mexican President Felipe Calderon. | The latest revelations follow claims in the German media that US agents hacked into the email account of former Mexican President Felipe Calderon. |
| Mr Snowden, a former NSA worker, went public with revelations about US spying operations in June. | Mr Snowden, a former NSA worker, went public with revelations about US spying operations in June. |
| The information he leaked led to claims of systematic spying by the NSA and CIA on a global scale. | The information he leaked led to claims of systematic spying by the NSA and CIA on a global scale. |
| Targets included rivals like China and Russia, as well as allies like the EU and Brazil. | Targets included rivals like China and Russia, as well as allies like the EU and Brazil. |
| The NSA was also forced to admit it had captured email and phone data from millions of Americans. | The NSA was also forced to admit it had captured email and phone data from millions of Americans. |
| Mr Snowden is currently in Russia, where he was granted a year-long visa after making an asylum application. | Mr Snowden is currently in Russia, where he was granted a year-long visa after making an asylum application. |
| The US wants him extradited to face trial on criminal charges. | The US wants him extradited to face trial on criminal charges. |