A
man is seen near cyber code and the U.S. National Security Agency logo
in this photo illustration taken in Sarajevo March 11, 2015.
REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
Germany has halted its Internet surveillance for the U.S. National
Security Agency (NSA) in response to a row over the BND intelligence
agency’s cooperation with Washington, German media reported on Thursday.
Reuters have more:
Allegations that the BND has helped the NSA spy on
European officials and firms has put strains on Angela Merkel’s
governing coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and could damage
U.S. relations and even the conservative chancellor’s own popularity. An
INSA poll on Wednesday showed that 62 percent of Germans think the BND
row threatens Merkel’s credibility. Ultimate responsibility for the BND
lies with her office.
The Sueddeutsche daily and WDR and NDR broadcasters reported that the
BND’s station in Bad Aibling this week stopped sending the NSA
information garnered from Internet surveillance. The step was taken
after the NSA refused to provide clear justification of each request for
surveillance of individuals or organizations, a condition agreed by the
BND and chancellor’s office. The condition is already required for fax
or phone surveillance.
The BND and German government declined to comment. Surveillance is a
sensitive issue in Germany as a result of the extensive snooping by the
Stasi secret police in Communist East Germany and by the Gestapo in the
Nazi era.
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