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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| James Clapper: No 'indiscriminate' US spying | James Clapper: No 'indiscriminate' US spying |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A senior US intelligence official has told a House committee the US does not "indiscriminately" spy on other nations. | |
| Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said US intelligence gathering was subject to strict oversight. | |
| And he warned Congress against "overcorrecting" intelligence policy amid current spying rows. | |
| Mr Clapper said learning the foreign leaders' intentions was a "hardy perennial" for US spy agencies. | |
| "Leadership intentions is kind of a basic tenet of what we collect and analyse," he said, reacting to the growing international row over reports the US has spied extensively on leaders and citizens of friendly nations. | |
| They are analysed to determine if "what they're saying gels with what's actually going on", Mr Clapper said. | |
| Also testifying before the House intelligence committee on Tuesday was National Security Agency (NSA) Director Gen Keith Alexander, who too stressed the oversight regimen to which the electronic spy agency is subject. | |
| Gen Alexander called media reports in France, Spain and Italy that the NSA collected millions of telephone calls "completely false". | |
| The information "that lead people to believe that the NSA or United States collected that information is false, and it's false that it was collected on European citizens," he added. "It was neither." | |
| Tuesday's hearing followed calls by US Senate intelligence committee chairwoman Diane Feinstein to end eavesdropping on leaders of the nation's allies. | |
| Ms Feinstein said the White House had told her such surveillance would stop, but a senior administration official told the BBC there was no policy change so far. | Ms Feinstein said the White House had told her such surveillance would stop, but a senior administration official told the BBC there was no policy change so far. |
| President Barack Obama has faced significant criticism over reports he was unaware of the extent of the spying. | President Barack Obama has faced significant criticism over reports he was unaware of the extent of the spying. |
| In a television interview, the US president said the country's national security operations were being reassessed to ensure the National Security Agency's (NSA) growing technological capability was kept under control. | In a television interview, the US president said the country's national security operations were being reassessed to ensure the National Security Agency's (NSA) growing technological capability was kept under control. |
| "We give them policy direction," he told ABC's Fusion network. | "We give them policy direction," he told ABC's Fusion network. |
| "But what we've seen over the last several years is their capacities continue to develop and expand, and that's why I'm initiating now a review." | "But what we've seen over the last several years is their capacities continue to develop and expand, and that's why I'm initiating now a review." |
| German media have reported that the US bugged German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone for more than a decade - and that the surveillance only ended a few months ago. It has also been reported that the NSA spied on French diplomats in Washington and at the UN, and that it conducted surveillance on millions of French and Spanish telephone calls, among other operations against US allies. | German media have reported that the US bugged German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone for more than a decade - and that the surveillance only ended a few months ago. It has also been reported that the NSA spied on French diplomats in Washington and at the UN, and that it conducted surveillance on millions of French and Spanish telephone calls, among other operations against US allies. |
| 'Totally opposed' | 'Totally opposed' |
| In the wake of the Merkel revelations, Ms Feinstein called for a "total review" of US intelligence programmes. | In the wake of the Merkel revelations, Ms Feinstein called for a "total review" of US intelligence programmes. |
| "With respect to NSA collection of intelligence on leaders of US allies - including France, Spain, Mexico and Germany - let me state unequivocally: I am totally opposed," she said in a statement. | "With respect to NSA collection of intelligence on leaders of US allies - including France, Spain, Mexico and Germany - let me state unequivocally: I am totally opposed," she said in a statement. |
| "It is my understanding that President Obama was not aware Chancellor Merkel's communications were being collected since 2002. That is a big problem." | "It is my understanding that President Obama was not aware Chancellor Merkel's communications were being collected since 2002. That is a big problem." |
| Ms Feinstein said the White House had told her that all surveillance of leaders of countries friendly to the US would stop. | Ms Feinstein said the White House had told her that all surveillance of leaders of countries friendly to the US would stop. |
| However, a senior administration official has told the BBC that is not accurate - and that while there have been individual changes there have not been policy changes, such as terminating intelligence gathering aimed at allies. | However, a senior administration official has told the BBC that is not accurate - and that while there have been individual changes there have not been policy changes, such as terminating intelligence gathering aimed at allies. |
| Also on Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that the administration "recognise[s] there needs to be additional constraints on how we gather and use intelligence". | Also on Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that the administration "recognise[s] there needs to be additional constraints on how we gather and use intelligence". |
| Spying pact | Spying pact |
| Earlier on Monday, representatives from the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs spoke to members of the US Congress about the alleged US spying on European leaders and citizens. | Earlier on Monday, representatives from the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs spoke to members of the US Congress about the alleged US spying on European leaders and citizens. |
| The European delegation was reportedly unhappy with the "stock" responses from US officials on the issue. | The European delegation was reportedly unhappy with the "stock" responses from US officials on the issue. |
| Their visit coincided with reports that the US had monitored 60 million Spanish telephone calls in a month and asked the Japanese government to help it monitor fibre-optic cables carrying personal data through Japan, to the Asia-Pacific region. | Their visit coincided with reports that the US had monitored 60 million Spanish telephone calls in a month and asked the Japanese government to help it monitor fibre-optic cables carrying personal data through Japan, to the Asia-Pacific region. |
| The allegations of US surveillance on international allies stem from documents leaked by fugitive ex-US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, now living in Russia. | The allegations of US surveillance on international allies stem from documents leaked by fugitive ex-US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, now living in Russia. |
| The US has had a "no-spying pact", known as Five Eyes, with Britain since just after World War II, with Australia, New Zealand and Canada later joining. | The US has had a "no-spying pact", known as Five Eyes, with Britain since just after World War II, with Australia, New Zealand and Canada later joining. |