CBC reported that the documents don’t mention precise targets ofthe US spying operation but say that plans were “closely coordinatedwith the Canadian partner”. The national broadcaster’s websitesaid the documents show that the NSA used the US embassy inOttawa as a command post for a nearly weeklong spying operationwhile President Barack Obama and other foreign leaders were inCanada in June 2010.
TORONTO – Canadianauthorities allowed the NationalSecurity Agency to spy in thecountry during the G8 and G20summits in 2010, CBC Newsreported late on Wednesday, citingdocuments shared by formerNSA contractor EdwardSnowden. The national broadcaster’swebsite said the documentsshow that the NSA usedthe US embassy in Ottawa as acommand post for a nearlyweeklong spying operationwhile President Barack Obamaand other foreign leaders werein Canada in June 2010.CBC reported that the documentsdon’t mention precisetargets of the US spying operationbut say that plans were”closely coordinated with theCanadian partner”.The report that came out onWednesday did not publish thedocuments. A spokesman forPrime Minister Stephen Harper,Jason MacDonald, late onWednesday said that, “We donot comment on operationalmatters related to national security.”A spokeswoman forCanada’s equivalent of theNSA, the CommunicationsSecurity Establishment Canada,said they could not commenton the operations of Canada orits allies.”Under the law, CSEC does nottarget Canadians anywhere orany person in Canada throughits foreign intelligence activities,”spokeswoman LauriSullivan, said. “CSEC cannotask our international partners toact in a way that circumventsCanadian laws.”A Canadian civil liberties group,OpenMedia.ca, quickly objected.”It’s … clear this spying wasaimed at supporting US policygoals during a highly contentioussummit,” executivedirector Steve Anderson said ina statement. “This is sure tocause huge damage to Canada’srelationships with our other G-20 partners.” Snowden, earlierthis year, began leaking topsecretdocuments detailing theNSA’s collection of millions ofUS communications records,among other practices.Reports in other media havesaid the NSA allegedly monitoredGerman ChancellorAngela Merkel’s cellphone,swept up millions of Frenchtelephone records and hackedthe computer network ofBrazil’s state-run oil companyPetrobras. In response to thereports, the UN general assembly’shuman rights committee isexpected to vote in the nextweek on a resolution to protectthe right to privacy againstunlawful surveillance in the digitalage.
