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Europeans Alarmed by US Spy Powers

by IOL (reposted)
CAIRO — The new law giving US security agencies unprecedented spy powers has recent sent shockwaves across the Atlantic where Europeans are concerned about the impact of the far-reaching powers on their own privacy, The Observer reported on Sunday, August 19.

"There's been a lot of upheaval in Congress about this new act over fears [President George] Bush will use it to eavesdrop on US citizens," Dutch Liberal Democrat MEP Sophie in 't Veld wrote in a statement to European politicians.

"But it can and will be used for the communications of Europeans."

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, approved by Congress earlier this month, gives security agencies unprecedented powers to spy on Americans without a warrant.

But it also gives them powers to intercept all telephone calls, internet traffic and emails made across US-based networks.

Privacy activists fear the backlash of such far-reaching authorities on non-Americans since much of the world's telecoms networks and internet infrastructure runs through the US.

Under the new law, US authorities will have huge scope for monitoring and intercepting private communications of foreign citizens.

"Just because it happens to pass through the US they claim they can do whatever they want," said Tony Bunyan, director of Statewatch, a civil rights group that campaigns against state surveillance.

Answers

In 't Veld has tabled a series of questions demanding answers from the European parliament.

She warns that the new American law will "directly apply to EU citizens and constitutes a major violation of privacy and civil liberties."

The Dutch MEP said the law has raised many questions.

""For example, I would like to know what sort of communications go via the UN."

Bunyan, the director of Statewatch, criticized European government for deafening silence.

"Where is the EU saying, "What's going on here, we've got to protect the rights of our citizens"?

The new law has prompted a furor in the US and was opposed by Senators Clinton and Barack Obama, the leading contenders for the Democratic White House ticket.

Under an agreement with the European Commission, US authorities are able to check the personal details of travelers entering America and store them on databases alongside details such as their sexuality and religious beliefs for up to 15 years.

For the past five years, the Bush administration has been taping into the Passenger Name Record database, created by global travel reservation services.
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