NSA spied on EU's Anti Trust Chief

[Ichingcarpenter]

U.S. and British intelligence agencies spied on the communications of Europe's top business competition official, according to the latest documents leaked to The New York Times by Edward Snowden.

The documents show that in 2008 and 2009, the National Security Agency and Britain's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) intercepted the communications of Joaquín Almunia, vice president of the European Commission, the Times wrote Friday.

Previous leaks have already revealed that the NSA targeted foreign leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but it is unclear what national security information could have been gleaned from spying on Almunia, who enforces Europe's antitrust laws.

Almunia has fined several U.S. companies, including Microsoft and Intel, in recent years and is still conducting a three-year long investigation of Google over whether it manipulates its search results to stifle competition.

The United States has criticized China for using surveillance to gain an economic advantage, and U.S. officials have repeatedly denied that they engage in such practices.

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/193748-snowden-docs-reveal-spying-on-eu-antitrust-chief


''These programs were never about terrorism: they're about economic spying, social control, and diplomatic manipulation. They're about power. ''

Eric Snowden

[Th1onein]

1. So now we are officially a fascist state.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. State sponsored corporate espionage to

protect Microsoft and not at the shareholder's expense but the taxpayers.

[Th1onein]

5. This is not the same country I grew up in.

I am appalled and afraid for the future of my grandchildren.

[Enthusiast]

7. There really isn't any other way to see it.

Our military, surveillance and intelligence apparatus is operating on behalf of the corporations.

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini

[KoKo]

2. Some of us suspected this.

When Private Contractors are involved it would make sense that some of the info gathered would be useful for our Multi-Nationals benefit.

Snowden's Quote didn't get much play here on DU...but I think he's an honorable guy and a hero.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. If you look at Significant personnel and associates of Boz Allen

then it becomes clear that the NSA works for them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booz_Allen_Hamilton#Significant_personnel_and_associates_.28past_and_present.29

[riderinthestorm]

6. Well clearly the EU's anti-trust chief is a terrorist!1!!1 Because that's ONLY who we spy on!11!!

According to the authoritarians today who are sounding increasingly desperate as they repeat this over and over and over...

Besides its LEGAL! The NSA had a warrant!

USA! USA! USA!

Be afraid! Be very afraid of Joaquín Almunia. Even his name strikes terror in your heart don't it?!




I am sick to death of what's being done in our name. This is fascism - the organizations of the state being used for corporate power. Disgusting. How anyone can seek to rationalize this away just blows my mind.

[Aerows]

12. Wait a second, though

We knew this already, right? And besides, Snowden had a bunch of boxes in his garage, didn't stop to pet his neighbor's dog and abandoned his fiance, so we can't trust a damn thing that he revealed ... that we knew already.

[Amonester]

16. But, but, but... the $TOCK MARKET is at an ALL-TIME

Record HIGH!!11!!!












(while 50 million+ starve and freeze to death)




Isn't it gReat??? PARTY!!11!!! til

[Aerows]

8. But ... National Security!

He couldn't be trusted to not rule in a way unfavorable to monopolies!

What if he actually deemed something a monopoly and it caused a corporation to suffer, what would you say then?

[Rex]

9. So who haven't we spied on at this point?

nt.

[Cali_Democrat]

10. Canada, UK

The US has no-spy agreements with them.

[Rex]

11. I wonder if it is because we pool our information?

Seems we work with the UK a lot on these issues, not so sure about Canada.

[Aerows]

14. Five Eyes

USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UKUSA_Agreement

[Rex]

15. Haven't heard that before, well we all know what they have in common.

But you just KNOW that yes, the DO spy on each other! Like a treaty or law has ever stopped any nation from spying on their neighbors!

[Aerows]

13. Because they are part of the Five eyes

... Which just shares information between them and us freely. They do the spying for us!

[BelgianMadCow]

17. Thank you a thousand times, Ichingcarpenter, for highlighting that

which I consider the key part of todays revelations. Clearly spying on a top level official like Almunia is industrial espionage.

However, the EU elite keep coming back with stern worded letters at best, and keep the TTIP going. The conclusion should be obvious.

[Cali_Democrat]

19. France conducts industrial espionage against Germany

and other European countries according to docs released by wikileaks

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/france-heads-industrial-espionage-wikileaks-cables/story-e6frf7jx-1225982019775

[riderinthestorm]

18. Kicking as a slap to all the authoritarians who are avoiding this thread nt

[woo me with science]

20. K&R Corporate fascism.

[woo me with science]

21. kick