World leaders seek answers on US collection of communication data

[Monkie]

Source: the guardian

Leading Europeans, from Angela Merkel down to information chiefs across the continent, are lining up to grill American counterparts on the Prism surveillance programmes, amid mounting fury that the private information of EU nationals will have been caught up in the data dragnet.

Peter Schaar, Germany's federal data protection commissioner, told the Guardian that it was unacceptable for the US authorities to have access to EU citizens' data and that the level of protection was lower than that guaranteed to US citizens.

"So far, the US has no adequate level of data protection guaranteed in law and with independent oversight, like in Europe," he told the Guardian. "It's essential for me that we cannot ignore anymore the question of what happens with the data of the private sector if it's collected by US or third-party companies and public authorities want to surveil this data.

EU commission officials say that where the privacy rights of a European citizen are concerned, it is for a judge in their member state to determine whether the data can be lawfully transmitted. They warn that simply relying on US or other "third-country" law may be breach international law. They say that such transmission of personal data should be done through established official channels such as mutual legal-assistance agreements.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/10/european-reaction-us-surveillance-revelations

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i wonder if people fully understand the consequences, especially for american business, the fines that the EU has levied in the past on companies such as microsoft run in the billions.
european law and international law has been broken.

[Iliyah]

1. Why I'm not surprised?

Will this hinder our National Security surveillance, NOPE. More outrage from countries who have similar or possibility of a better spying system. Keep the information flowing and lord forgive if one of those nasty terrorist get hold of the 29er.

NSA steps into plan "Z"

[okaawhatever]

2. We knew this was coming. Bad day for the diplomatic corps. nt

[blkmusclmachine]

3. GOOD LUCK!

[L0oniX]

4. I hope this heats up hot enough to melt some Washington DC ass.

[840high]

5. That I'd like to see.

[christx30]

7. This is exactly why I really like

Edward Snowden. Too many times, agencies do everything they do in a total vacuum. They never have to answer hard questions. This is the same kind of lack of oversight that allowed Abu Ghraib and waterboarding and Guantanamo. If we're lucky, some member of the intelligence committee might raise a question or two, but no entrenched member is going to risk his or her seat by raising an actual objection.
Now everyone is looking into it. Everyone is asking questions and giving opinions. The politicians are having to defend what they do to the people that put them into power.
The job of an elected official should be a mind-numbingly miserable experience.

[RC]

6. If we USA'ns don't take care of our spy data mess, the rest of the civilized world will.

And I don't think we will like it much. I can see both those at the top and and us at bottom swirling around the same drain before this is over, if we are not careful.

[DCKit]

8. Jeebus Merkel, you're the leader of Germany.

Even without Prism, they'd still be spying on your fascist ass.