Germany and France yesterday demanded that Denmark explain why it had let America’s National Security Agency use data from Danish undersea cables to spy on Angela Merkel and other European leaders. The US spying on European leaders emerged in 2013 in secrets leaked by Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor and whistleblower. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Ms Merkel, the German chancellor, said they expected both the American and Danish governments to offer explanations. But this led to no overt action until 2018, when a whistleblower took the report to the country’s intelligence watchdog. “I’m not angry, I’m stunned,” said Mr Steinbruck, who learnt for the first time he had been a target for spying.

Source: Irish Independent June 01, 2021 01:37 UTC