Attacks from America: NSA Spied on European Union Offices - Der Spiegel

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Looks like Rice's claims that the leaks wouldn't hurt international relations...were... overstated.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nsa-spied-on-european-union-offices-a-908590.html

America's NSA intelligence service allegedly targeted the European Union with its spying activities. According to SPIEGEL information, the US placed bugs in the EU representation in Washington and infiltrated its computer network. Cyber attacks were also perpetrated against Brussels in New York and Washington.

Information obtained by SPIEGEL shows that America's National Security Agency (NSA) not only conducted online surveillance of European citizens, but also appears to have specifically targeted buildings housing European Union institutions. The information appears in secret documents obtained by whistleblower Edward Snowden that SPIEGEL has in part seen. A "top secret" 2010 document describes how the secret service attacked the EU's diplomatic representation in Washington.

The document suggests that in addition to installing bugs in the building in downtown Washington, DC, the EU representation's computer network was also infiltrated. In this way, the Americans were able to access discussions in EU rooms as well as emails and internal documents on computers.

The attacks on EU institutions show yet another level in the broad scope of the NSA's spying activities. For weeks now, new details about Prism and other surveillance programs have been emerging that had been compiled by whistleblower Snowden. Details have also emerged that the British intelligence service GCHQ operates a similar program under the name Tempora with which global telephone and Internet connections are monitored. The documents SPIEGEL has seen indicate that the EU representation to the United Nations was attacked in a manner similar to the way surveillance was conducted against its offices in Washington. An NSA document dated September 2010 explicitly names the Europeans as a "location target"

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. kick

[struggle4progress]

2. "... A little over five years ago ..."

[Catherina]

3. Not going to end well " EU demands clarification over US spying claims"

EU demands clarification over US spying claims

European parliament president 'deeply worried and shocked' by claims published in Der Spiegel that US bugged EU offices

Jonathan Haynes and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 30 June 2013 09.31 BST


European parliament president Martin Schulz warned of a severe impact on EU-US relations if the claims of bugging were true. Photograph: Laurent Dubrule/Reuters

The president of the European parliament has called for "full clarification" from the US over claims it bugged EU offices in America and accessed computer networks.

Martin Schulz said it would have a "severe impact" on relations between the EU and the US if revelations by German magazine Der Spiegel are true.

...

Luxembourg's foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, told Der Spiegel: "If these reports are true, it's disgusting.

"The United States would be better off monitoring its secret services rather than its allies. We must get a guarantee from the very highest level now that this stops immediately."

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/30/us-clarification-us-spying-nsa

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with the usual minimzations to excuse this as a non -story or try to confuse the two stories reported and pretend the EU is getting upset over nothing.

[temmer]

5. this most probably will happen

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with the usual minimzations to excuse this as a non -story or try to confuse the two stories reported and pretend the EU is getting upset over nothing.

however, at the moment it looks like it will have a serious impact on the trans-atlantic partnership. Even NATO is on the brink. And in September there is election in Germany, and Merkel can't afford to gloss over. The opposition leader has already has demanded clarification from her (not with regards to the Washington EU bugs, but to the new broad spying on Germans http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/steinbrueck-fordert-von-merkel-aufklaerung-ueber-nsa-ueberwachung-a-908611.html#js-article-comments-box-pager).

So this is a global issue, to repeat myself. Interesting to watch how this thing develops.

[Catherina]

4. EU Press Release "on alleged bugging of EU office by the US authorities"

Schulz on alleged bugging of EU office by the US authorities

Press Release
Brussels -
29-06-2013
Foreign Affairs - Internal Policies and EU In



The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz made the following statement on reports that EU offices have allegedly been bugged by the US authorities:

I am deeply worried and shocked about the allegations of US authorities spying on EU offices. If the allegations prove to be true, it would be an extremely serious matter which will have a severe impact on EU-US relations. On behalf of the European Parliament, I demand full clarification and require further information speedily from the US authorities with regard to these allegations."

...

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/en/press/press_release_speeches/press_release/2013/2013-june/html/schulz-on-alleged-bugging-of-eu-office-by-the-us-authorities

[marmar]

6. k/r