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(Image source: The White House / Pete Souza)
BY ELIZABETH HAGEDORN
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper says reports that the U.S. collected data
on the phone conversations of French citizens are false.
Citing documents leaked from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, French publication Le Monde
reported Monday the NSA had intercepted more than 70 million phone calls in France in a
span of 30 days.
According to the report, phone calls were automatically recorded when certain numbers
were dialed, and text messages were picked up based on certain keywords. (Via France
24)
Le Monde followed up with a report claiming the U.S. bugged French diplomats and used
that information to sway a key U.N. vote involving Iran sanctions in 2010. (Via United Nations)
While French officials appear taken aback by the news, reports of U.S. snooping are
hardly new.
German publication Der Spiegel had previously reported on the NSA's monitoring of French
diplomats after The Washington Post first revealed the existence of the NSA's global
cyberspying operation this summer.
The French government has slammed the reports as "shocking and unacceptable." Its foreign
minister says he summoned the U.S. ambassador in Paris to demand an explanation.
And France isn't alone in its outrage. It joins a growing list of U.S. allies agitated
at similar reports of NSA snooping — including Germany, Britain, Brazil, Mexico and the European
Union. (Via CNN)
Now, it's worth noting Clapper didn't deny spying on the French. Rather, he called the
specific report "inaccurate" and "misleading." (Via The White House)
But not everyone's buying it. After all, some might say Clapper doesn't exactly have the
best track record of being truthful when it comes to the NSA's spying efforts.
RON WYDEN: "Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of
millions of Americans?"
CLAPPER: "No, sir ... not wittingly." (Via Fox News)
In a statement, Clapper conceded, "The United States gathers intelligence of the type gathered
by all nations." (Via Office of the Director of National Intelligence)
And that appears to include France. This summer, Le Monde reported the French spying agency
has its own program used to track and store phone and Internet activity of its citizens.