The US can snoop on all EU member states through the National Security Agency’s PRISM surveillance program by gathering user data from internet companies such as Google and Facebook, as disclosed by the whistleblower Edward Snowden. Some data revealed that Germany is the most snooped EU nation. This did not only worry the EU citizens over their privacy, but also post a threat to the upcoming EU-US trade talk.
Viviane Reding, the justice commissioner of the European Commission, will meet US officials on 13 June in Dublin and seek clarification on the issue. A meeting will be held today by political group leaders of EU with the Commission.
References:
Articles
EUobserver “Germany most snooped EU country by US
Deutsche Welle “ Brussels failed to act against US surveillance of EU citizens”
The Guardian “Prism scandal: European commission to seek privacy guarantees from US”
Financial Times “Data spying scandal threatens EU-US trade talks“
EurActiv “Parliament expresses anger over US data scandal”
蘋果日報 〈「稜鏡」針對外國人 德促抵制美九大網絡〉