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Threat from NSA leaks may have been overstated by UK, says Lord Falconer
Source: The Guardian
Threat from NSA leaks may have been overstated by UK, says Lord Falconer
Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent
theguardian.com, Sunday 17 November 2013 17.44 GMT
Britain's intelligence chiefs may have exaggerated the threat posed to national security by the leaking of the NSA files, according to a former lord chancellor who has questioned whether the legal oversight of MI6, MI5 and GCHQ is "fit for purpose".
Lord Falconer of Thoroton said he was sceptical of the claim by the heads of GCHQ, MI6 and MI5 that the leaks represent the most serious blow to their work in a generation, and warned that the NSA files highlighted "bulk surveillance" by the state.
Falconer, who also said he deprecated attempts to portray the Guardian as an "enemy of the state", pointed out that 850,000 people had access to the files leaked by the US whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Falconer, a close ally of Tony Blair who served as lord chancellor from 2003-07, told the Guardian: "I am aware that the three heads of the agencies said what has been published has set back the fight against terrorism for years. Sir John Sawers (the chief of MI6) said al-Qaida would be rubbing their hands with glee. This is in the context of maybe 850,000 people literally having access to this material."
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Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent
theguardian.com, Sunday 17 November 2013 17.44 GMT
Britain's intelligence chiefs may have exaggerated the threat posed to national security by the leaking of the NSA files, according to a former lord chancellor who has questioned whether the legal oversight of MI6, MI5 and GCHQ is "fit for purpose".
Lord Falconer of Thoroton said he was sceptical of the claim by the heads of GCHQ, MI6 and MI5 that the leaks represent the most serious blow to their work in a generation, and warned that the NSA files highlighted "bulk surveillance" by the state.
Falconer, who also said he deprecated attempts to portray the Guardian as an "enemy of the state", pointed out that 850,000 people had access to the files leaked by the US whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Falconer, a close ally of Tony Blair who served as lord chancellor from 2003-07, told the Guardian: "I am aware that the three heads of the agencies said what has been published has set back the fight against terrorism for years. Sir John Sawers (the chief of MI6) said al-Qaida would be rubbing their hands with glee. This is in the context of maybe 850,000 people literally having access to this material."
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/17/threat-nsa-leaks-snowden-files