March 2014 Intelligence News

US Considering Releasing Israeli Spy to Boost Mideast Peace Talks VOA 31 Mar 2014 -- The United States is talking with Israel about releasing a convicted Israeli spy as part of efforts to extend Mideast peace talks beyond the end of April. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets again with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday morning, as the Palestinians threaten to quit the peace process unless Israel releases more prisoners.
US spying fears plague Swiss fighter deal Iran Press TV 30 Mar 2014 -- A Swiss plan to buy 22 fighter jets from Sweden is in disarray after a report says US-made equipment on the jets could be used for spying.
US surveillance agency NSA collected data on 122 int'l leaders in one month VoR 29 Mar 2014 -- The US surveillance agency NSA collected data on 122 international leaders in a single month, the German news magazine Der Spiegel reported on Saturday, quoting from a document in the trove taken by whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Initial phase of Joint STARS effort begins AFNS 27 Mar 2014 -- The Air Force's Joint STARS recapitalization effort is taking off as a Hanscom Air Force Base-led team moves toward replacing the aging fleet and beefing up its ability to detect threats, process data and distribute information.
Snowden: Spying reforms a 'turning point' Iran Press TV 27 Mar 2014 -- Edward Snowden, the former NSA employee-turned-whistleblower has called the proposed reforms on US spying programs as a "turning point".
Obama calls for reform to NSA Iran Press TV 27 Mar 2014 -- US President Barack Obama has called on Congress to quickly reform the National Security Agency's controversial spying program, a senior official said.
Statement by the President on the Section 215 Bulk Metadata Program The White House 27 Mar 2014
FACT SHEET: The Administration's Proposal for Ending the Section 215 Bulk Telephony Metadata Program The White House 27 Mar 2014
Background Conference Call on the Bulk Telephone Metadata Program The White House 27 Mar 2014
Obama Unveils Plan to End Bulk Phone Data Collection VOA 27 Mar 2014 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has put forward his plan to end the government's massive collection and storage of phone data, a practice that has drawn criticism in the United States and abroad.
CIA director says al-Qaeda is seeing Syria 'as a launching pad' Iran Press TV 26 Mar 2014 -- The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency says al-Qaeda militants are seeking to establish bases in Syria to plan attacks on Europe and the United States.
CIA torture report will head to Obama's desk Iran Press TV 26 Mar 2014 -- US President Barack Obama is to either approve or redact a summary of a lengthy report on CIA torture practices prepared by the US Senate Intelligence Committee after the panel votes to make the summary public.
Brazil lower house passes anti-spy law Iran Press TV 26 Mar 2014 -- Brazil's lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, has passed a new anti-spy Internet law in the wake of recent revelations about global spying activities by the United States.
Obama, Legislators Propose Plans to Stop Massive NSA Phone Data Collection VOA 25 Mar 2014 -- Both U.S. President Barack Obama and key committee leaders in Congress are proposing legislation that would end the National Security Agency's collection and storage of massive amounts of Americans' phone records. The proposed changes come in response to a wave of privacy concerns at home and abroad triggered by revelations last year from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
White House to propose ending NSA bulk collection of phone records - official VoR 25 Mar 2014 -- President Barack Obama plans to ask Congress to end the bulk collection and storage of phone records by the National Security Agency but allow the government to access the 'metadata' when needed, a senior administration official said on Monday.
US to increase the efficiency of electronic surveillance against Russia VoR 25 Mar 2014 -- US intelligence agencies are trying to achieve the expansion of the zone, which could be monitored by means of American satellites on the territory of Russia, Ukraine and the Baltic States, as well as improve the efficiency of interception of phone calls and other conversations in these countries.
Remotely piloted aircraft report UK MOD 25 Mar 2014 -- A Defence Select Committee report published today says remotely piloted aircraft are an important military capability for the future.
Time not ripe for military intelligence pact with Japan: S. Korea People's Daily 24 Mar 2014 -- South Korea's Defense Ministry said Monday that time was not ripe yet for signing a military intelligence pact with Japan, which was dropped by Seoul two years ago amid strong backlash at home.
U.S. urged to stop spying activities on China People's Daily 24 Mar 2014 -- China on Monday asked the United States to explain spying activities it allegedly carried out on China and told it to stop such acts.
China demands clear explanation from US over spying Iran Press TV 24 Mar 2014 -- Beijing has demanded a clear explanation from Washington over reports of espionage by the US National Security Agency (NSA) on Chinese institutions.
China demands US explanation on NSA cyber-spying reports VoR 24 Mar 2014 -- Beijing demanded an explanation from Washington Monday over reports that the US National Security Agency (NSA) had spied on Chinese ministries, banks and other companies.
China's telecommunications giant Huawei denounces US spying activities Iran Press TV 23 Mar 2014 -- China's telecommunications giant Huawei has denounced US National Security Agency (NSA) infiltration and spying on its corporate network.
US NSA spied on Chinese leaders, banks, businesses VoR 23 Mar 2014 -- The US National Security Agency spied on the leaders of China as well as Chinese banks and the telecommunications giant Huawei, a German news magazine reported Saturday in its online edition.
US spied on Chinese politicians, firms: Report Iran Press TV 22 Mar 2014 -- Classified documents show that the US government has conducted a major spying offensive against Chinese officials and firms, with a major target being the telecommunications giant Huawei.
System administrators all over the world in danger of being hacked by NSA VoR 21 Mar 2014 -- System administrators over the world are in danger of being tracked and hacked by the National Security Agency for simply doing their jobs, a new report published by The Intercept asserts basing on a secret document provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
NSA attorney: Tech companies knew about bulk data mining Iran Press TV 20 Mar 2014 -- Despite months of denial from leading tech companies that they were aware of the government's mining of user information, the National Security Agency's senior attorney testified that information was obtained with the 'full knowledge and assistance' of those firms.
US Senator orders probe of alleged CIA unlawful computer hacking VoR 20 Mar 2014 -- The leader of the US Senate on Thursday ordered an investigation into what he called an 'indefensible' breach of the Senate Intelligence Committee's computers by the CIA.
Google, Yahoo, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook knew about PRISM surveillance - NSA VoR 20 Mar 2014 -- The top lawyer for the National Security Agency told a civil liberties oversight board on Wednesday that companies such as Google, Yahoo, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook knew all about the NSA surveillance program PRISM, the Guardian reported.
Report: DOD watchdog unaware of NSA spying Iran Press TV 19 Mar 2014 -- The surveillance watchdog within the Department of Defense did not know about the sweeping National Security Agency (NSA) program that collected information about American phone calls, according to a Tuesday report from The Guardian.
Snowden might reveal US war plans to China, Russia: Intelligence experts Iran Press TV 19 Mar 2014 -- Former US intelligence officials have warned that American whistleblower Edward Snowden might disclose US war plans to China and Russia, according to a report.
Pentagon watchdog admits he had no clue about massive NSA phone data collection VoR 19 Mar 2014 -- The Pentagon's surveillance watchdog in charge of overseeing the National Security Agency's efforts and making sure that they're within the law said he had no idea about massive phone data collection until it hit the headlines. Furthermore, he said his office isn't currently, nor does it have any plans to investigate the agency's surveillance policies.
Moscow's Embassy in Lithuania hasn't been notified of espionage charges against Russian diplomat VoR 18 Mar 2014 -- The Russian Embassy in Vilnius has not received any official confirmation from the Lithuanian authorities concerning recent media reports claiming that Lithuania's special services brought up espionage charges against a Russian diplomat working in this country, said Russian Embassy spokesman Alexander Ivanov.
>NSA records, stores for 30 days 100% of foreign countries' telephone calls VoR 18 Mar 2014 -- The US National Security Agency has created a surveillance system that allows it to record and review other countries' telephone calls. Then, the information is stored up to 30 days. This data is provided by the documents, disclosed by the NSA former contractor Edward Snowden.
CIA suspends chief of Iran operations: Report Iran Press TV 17 Mar 2014 -- The US spy agency CIA has suspended the chief of its Iran operations because his 'mismanagement' had put the division "in disarray," a report says.
CIA suspends US chief of Iran operations over 'workplace issues' VoR 17 Mar 2014 -- Veteran CIA officer Jonathan Bank, former chief of Iran operations, is placed on paid administrative leave amid a rebellion against his management style, current and former colleagues say. The former CIA agent was sent home from agency headquarters after an internal investigation found he had created an abusive and hostile work environment that made it impossible for the branch to function properly.
Global Effects of CIA-Senate Dispute Uncertain VOA 17 Mar 2014 -- The recently-exposed dispute between the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee and the CIA is causing a stir in Washington. Some analysts say, though, it may not have much impact on U.S. intelligence operations overseas.
Taiwan air force major, karaoke bar owner charged with spying for China VoR 14 Mar 2014 -- A Taiwanese air force major and a karaoke bar owner have been charged with leaking military secrets to China, prosecutors said Friday, in the latest espionage case to hit the island.
CIA Chief: Agency Didn't Hack Senate Computers VOA 13 Mar 2014 -- CIA Director John Brennan has denied that his agency has hacked into lawmakers' computers, as the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee has charged. The dispute, made public on Tuesday, has been going on for years.
Air Force major indicted for selling military intelligence to China CNA 13 Mar 2014 -- An Air Force major and a karaoke club owner have been indicted for disclosing military secrets to China, prosecutors in Kaohsiung said Thursday.
Report: Obama withholding CIA torture records from investigators Iran Press TV 13 Mar 2014 -- The US administration been preventing the Senate Intelligence Committee and investigators from reviewing CIA records about torturous interrogation techniques carried out during the presidency of George W Bush, according to US media reports.
Australia to buy fleet of giant US drones Iran Press TV 13 Mar 2014 -- Australia has announced plans to buy a fleet of giant US drones to help patrol the nation's borders, monitoring energy infrastructure and attempts to enter the country illegally.
UN expert denounces use of torture-tainted information in States that condemn practice UN News Centre 12 Mar 2014 -- States that condemn torture while using information and products obtained through the practice in other countries are hypocritical, a United Nations human rights expert declared today, regretting that many Governments refuse to subject their intelligence agencies to strict scrutiny on the subject.
EU parliament threatens to block US trade deal over mass spying VoR 12 Mar 2014 -- The European Parliament threatened Wednesday to block a landmark free trade deal between the European Union and the United States if Washington does not end its mass spying activities. Negotiators are meeting in Brussels this week for a fourth round of talks on the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP), which would create the world's largest free-trade area. But the parliament would have to approve any deal for it to come into effect.
CIA ties to Congress at risk over spying charges - US Intelligence Chief VoR 12 Mar 2014 -- The CIA's relationship with Congress would be ruined if it is proven that the agency illegally spied on the Senate Intelligence Committee. This comes after the spy agency had allegedly searched senators' computers for clues on how they learned about CIA terrorist interrogation program.
Statement on Intel Committee’s CIA Detention, Interrogation Report Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein 11 Mar 2014 -- "Over the past week, there have been numerous press articles written about the Intelligence Committee’s oversight review of the Detention and Interrogation Program of the CIA, specifically press attention has focused on the CIA’s intrusion and search of the Senate Select Committee’s computers as well as the committee’s acquisition of a certain internal CIA document known as the Panetta Review. I rise today to set the record straight and to provide a full accounting of the facts and history."
NSA Chief Nominee Pledges to Rebuild Trust with American People VOA 11 Mar 2014 -- U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday reiterated their concerns about the nation's intelligence gathering activities exposed by a fugitive former contractor at the National Intelligence Agency (NSA), Edward Snowden. At a confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, senators sought answers from President Barack Obama's nominee to head the NSA, who promised to rebuild trust through dialogue with the American people.
CIA Chief: Agency Didn't Hack Senate Computers VOA 11 Mar 2014 -- CIA Director John Brennan has denied that his agency has hacked into lawmakers' computers, as the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee has charged. The dispute, made public on Tuesday, has been going on for years.
Senator Feinstein: CIA violated US Constitution Iran Press TV 11 Mar 2014 -- The head of the US Senate Intelligence Committee says the Central Intelligence Agency appears to have violated the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution.
CIA accused of spying on US Congress VoR 11 Mar 2014 -- Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein has accused the CIA of violating the law and the Constitution of the United States by interfering in a committee investigation into Bush-era torture of terror suspects.
'US Constitution was being violated on massive scale' - Snowden VoR 11 Mar 2014 -- Speaking via video link, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden told a packed house at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival to fight against mass surveillance.
US Judge stops NSA from deleting surveillance records VoR 11 Mar 2014 -- A federal judge in San Francisco stopped the destruction Monday of millions of telephone records collected by the National Security Agency more than five years ago. US District Judge Jeffrey White, who is overseeing an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against the agency, issued a nationwide order Monday to safeguard evidence until March 19, when he will hold a hearing on extending the deadline further.
UK to send surveillance drone to Poland and Romania to monitor situation in Ukraine VoR 11 Mar 2014 -- The UK will send a surveillance drone of the Royal Air Force to Ukrainian borders, the Defense Ministry of the UK reported on Tuesday.
US surveillance to spy on spies, in fear of another Snowden VoR 10 Mar 2014 -- US surveillance plans to introduce a surveillance system which will keep track of the records of about 5 million federal employees with access to state secrets. The officials say it needs to be done to avoid a potential risk to the US interests and protect the government from another Edward Snowden.
Snowden says he tried to discuss NSA surveillance internally Iran Press TV 09 Mar 2014 -- Former US security contractor Edward Snowden says he was brushed off when he tried to discuss his concerns about surveillance with officials.
Court rules NSA can't keep metadata longer than 5 years Iran Press TV 08 Mar 2014 -- A US federal judge with the secret surveillance court has refused the Obama administration's request to allow the National Security Agency to keep spying data longer than five years.
US court rejects Justice Department's request to to extend storage of NSA phone records VoR 08 Mar 2014 -- A US special court has rejected the Justice Department's request to extend storage of classified National Security Agency (NSA) phone records beyond the current five-year legal limit, according to a court order released on Friday.
Alexander: U.S. Must Address Media Leaks, Cyber Legislation AFPS 07 Mar 2014 -- Leaks to the media of classified information and the need for cyber legislation were key elements of a speech this week by Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency.
Snowden leaks cost billions to NSA, CIA - top US military official VoR 07 Mar 2014 -- The top US military officer says it will take two years of study and billions of dollars to overcome the loss of security to military operations and tactics that were revealed in the massive stash of documents taken by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.
Snowden testifies to the European Parliament about the NSA surveillance VoR 07 Mar 2014 -- The NSA whistleblower has given extensive evidence to an inquiry into the surveillance of European citizens, describing what he calls a 'bazaar' of EU intelligence agencies allowing the US to spy on pretty much everyone.
DOD Releases Military Intelligence Program Base Request for fiscal year 2015 DoD 06 Mar 2014 -- he Department of Defense released today the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Request for fiscal year 2015. The total base request is $13.3 billion.
CIA Launches Probe of Possible Spying on US Senate Staffers VOA 06 Mar 2014 -- The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has launched an internal review into allegations that its officers had improperly monitored congressional staffers assigned to investigate the agency's interrogation program.
Army cleared to fly next-generation eye-in-the-sky UK MOD 05 Mar 2014 -- Watchkeeper, the Army's next-generation unmanned aerial system, has been cleared to begin military flight training with the Royal Artillery.
US gov't takes Sprint to court for overcharging surveillance by $21 million VoR 05 Mar 2014 -- The US Justice Department has accused Sprint of overcharging the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration and other law enforcement agencies by more than 50 percent for facilitating call surveillance, media reported. The allegedly inflated charges resulted in extra costs of $21 million from January 2007 to July 2010, according to the legal complaint filed Monday.
CIA faces new inquiry amid clashes on US controversial surveillance program VoR 05 Mar 2014 -- The CIA's attempt to keep the details of a defunct detention and interrogation program secret has started a battle between the agency and members of US Congress and led to an investigation by the CIA's internal watchdog into the conduct of its employees.
NSA chief approves limiting of eavesdropping VoR 01 Mar 2014 -- At a meeting of a congressional committee on Thursday, NSA chief, General Keith Alexander, admitted that this intelligence agency should discuss a possibility of extracting less, or more targeted metadata from communication companies.

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