May 2015 Intelligence News

US Senate Starts Debate Over National Security Surveillance VOA 31 May 2015 -- The U.S. Senate, in an unusual Sunday session, has started debating whether to extend its authorization of the country's vast national security surveillance operation, or let it lapse at midnight as the current law expires.
German-US Spy Scandal Spreading Like Wildfire Across Europe Sputnik 30 May 2015 -- Belgium and the Netherlands have launched an investigation into alleged espionage by Germany, blaming Berlin for assisting the United States in spying on its EU allies.
Obama Steps Up Pressure for Renewal of Surveillance Measures VOA 29 May 2015 -- President Barack Obama is stepping up pressure on the U.S. Senate, which appears set for a political showdown Sunday when it meets only hours before some key surveillance powers of the National Security Agency are set to expire.
Merkel deceived German public on US espionage pact: Report Press TV 27 May 2015 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel deceived her people about an inclination by the United States to sign a no-spy agreement with Germany, according to a new report.
Russia Brings Charges Against Lithuanian Citizen Accused of Espionage Sputnik 26 May 2015 -- Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) officially brought charges against a Lithuanian national, arrested on May 20, in Moscow while receiving a secret document from a Russian resident. The man was accused of espionage activities and brought into custody.
Congressional Inaction Could End Controversial Domestic Spying Program VOA 24 May 2015 -- This week, a U.S. spy agency is reportedly winding down its collection of Americans' telephone records after Congress failed to reform or extend the once-secret program that expires June 1.
US Senate Blocks Bill on NSA Domestic Surveillance Reform Sputnik 23 May 2015 -- The 'USA Freedom Act,' which aimed to reform certain federal surveillance programs and to end US spy agencies' bulk collection of residents' phone call data, has failed in the Senate.
US Senate Blocks House Bill on Domestic Surveillance VOA 23 May 2015 -- The U.S. Senate has blocked a House of Representatives bill that would have ended the bulk collection of domestic telephone data by the National Security Agency.
White House: Senate 'Playing Chicken' With NSA Spying Program VOA 22 May 2015 -- With U.S. senators no closer to reauthorizing the government's domestic surveillance program, the White House is sounding new warnings that the safety and security of Americans is being put at risk.
New surveillance system for future Royal Navy aircraft carriers revealed UK MOD 22 May 2015 -- A new helicopter-borne surveillance system has been chosen to protect the Royal Navy's future Queen Elizabeth Class carriers.
German Spy Chief Admits NSA Was Allowed to Ride Roughshod for Years Sputnik 22 May 2015 -- BND Chief Gerhard Schindler told a parliamentary enquiry on Thursday that Germany's dependence on the NSA led to a series of errors on the part of the BND, allowing the NSA to spy on European officials and commercial organizations.
US Professor Charged With Providing Sensitive Technology to China VOA 22 May 2015 -- U.S. federal prosecutors have charged the chairman of Temple University's physics department in connection with an alleged scheme to provide sensitive technology to China.
US Lawmakers Scramble to Avoid Lapse in Domestic Surveillance VOA 21 May 2015 -- U.S. lawmakers of both parties and in both houses say they are unsure how Congress will deal with the federal government’s expiring authorization for domestic surveillance in the fight against terrorism.
US spy aircraft defies Chinese warnings, swoops over disputed islands Press TV 21 May 2015 -- The US military has carried out its threat to fly over disputed islands in the South China Sea, defying multiple warnings by China's navy for the surveillance aircraft to leave the area.
Report: China Warns US Spy Plane VOA 21 May 2015 -- China's navy is reported to have issued eight warning messages to a U.S. military surveillance plane that passed over a group of man-made islands Beijing is using to secure its sweeping territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.
Turks, German charged in Berlin over spying for Turkey Press TV 21 May 2015 -- Federal prosecutors in Germany have charged two Turks and a German with spying on critics of the Turkish government.
US court rules to keep classified 'torture' documents secret Press TV 21 May 2015 -- A court has blocked an effort by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to force the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to release secret records about its torture program.
Afghan Unity Government Split On Intelligence-Sharing Deal RFE/RL 21 May 2015 -- Cracks in Afghanistan's unity government are appearing following the signing of a controversial intelligence deal with neighbor and archrival Pakistan.
CIA Destroyed Torture Tapes Over Fear of Worldwide Backlash Sputnik 21 May 2015 -- When it first came to light that the CIA had destroyed videos of its 'enhanced interrogation' sessions, it was justified as a way to protect undercover officers. But a new PBS documentary reveals that the tapes were destroyed because the public would never condone the gruesome acts they recorded.
Senator Rand Paul Launches Patriot Act Filibuster VOA 20 May 2015 -- A U.S. lawmaker has halted Senate proceedings by exercising his right to speak uninterrupted on the chamber floor as long as he is physically capable of doing so.
Russia Detains Alleged Lithuanian Spy RFE/RL 20 May 2015 -- A Russian court has charged a Lithuanian citizen with espionage.
Afghan President Under Pressure to Scrap Intel Deal With Pakistan VOA 20 May 2015 -- Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has demanded the government in Kabul immediately cancel an accord recently signed between spy agencies of Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan for enhancing joint anti-terrorism efforts.
Chinese Professors Among Six Defendants Charged with Economic Espionage and Theft of Trade Secrets for Benefit of People's Republic of China US Dept. of Justice 19 May 2015 -- The 32-count indictment, which had previously been sealed, charges a total of six individuals with economic espionage and theft of trade secrets for their roles in a long-running effort to obtain U.S. trade secrets for the benefit of universities and companies controlled by the PRC government.
US Charges 6 Chinese With Economic Espionage VOA 19 May 2015 -- The U.S. Department of Justice has charged six Chinese nationals with economic espionage and theft of trade secrets for allegedly accessing secret U.S. technologies and sharing them with universities and companies controlled by the Chinese government.
Pakistan, Afghanistan Sign Intelligence Cooperation Pact RFE/RL 19 May 2015 -- The intelligence agencies of Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to cooperate with each other in their fight against Islamist militants, apparently ending years of hostile relations between the two organizations.
CIA Operated Black Sites With Full Knowledge of Host Countries Sputnik 18 May 2015 -- The countries that participated in the US Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) terrorist detainee interrogation and transfer program had full knowledge of what was being done within their borders, former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell told Sputnik on Monday.
Hacking Laws Hushed Up in the UK Sputnik 18 May 2015 -- Without debate but with exemption, the UK government has quietly passed a new law making the government's spying agency, police and intelligence officials exempt from prosecution for hacking into computers and mobile phones.
German Intelligence Services Helped CIA in Search for bin Laden Sputnik 17 May 2015 -- Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND) provided the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with important help in the search for slain al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, local media reported.
US Senate Faces Deadline on Domestic Surveillance VOA 17 May 2015 -- The future scope of the U.S. government's domestic surveillance activities could be decided this week as Congress works to reauthorize soon-to-expire anti-terrorism efforts while reforming a controversial data collection program.
UK Parl. gives immunity to spies Press TV 16 May 2015 -- UK parliament has passed a new legislation giving the intelligence officers and police immunity from prosecution for hacking into computers, laptos and mobile phones.
Former CIA Official Reflects on Tangle of Wars in Syria VOA 16 May 2015 -- A former top U.S. intelligence official says the crisis in Syria is the hardest policy problem that he has seen in his 33 years in government.
Reporter's Notebook: Ex-CIA Official Talks Bin Laden, Drones, Intel VOA 15 May 2015 -- Former Deputy CIA director Michael Morell was a willing witness to some of the greatest events in my generation, and an unwilling participant in others. He stood next to President Bush on September 11, 2001; he was beside CIA Director Leon Panetta during the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden; and at times he was at the center of the political firestorm surrounding the 2012 Benghazi attack.
Are You Being Swept Up in US Intelligence Surveillance? VOA 13 May 2015 -- As U.S. lawmakers debate whether to continue an American spy agency's massive collection of telephone metadata or approve a less intrusive version, experts say the program may not be as critical as it was once thought to be.
US House Passes Surveillance Reform Bill to Rein In NSA VOA 13 May 2015 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed legislation that both extends the Patriot Act passed after the September 11th terrorist attacks and ends the bulk collection of the phone data of millions of Americans.
Russia's Vnesheconombank To Back Suspect In Spy Case RFE/RL 13 May 2015 -- A bank owned by Russia will pay the legal costs for a banker charged with participating in a Cold War-style Russian spy ring, his lawyer said May 12.
German Spy Chief to Testify Next Week in NSA Snooping Scandal Sputnik 13 May 2015 -- German intelligence chief Gerhard Schindler will testify next week before the parliament's investigative committee on the expanse of cooperation between the national spying agency BND and its US counterpart NSA, German parliament Bundestag announced Wednesday.
WikiLeaks Expose German Government's Role in NSA Surveillance Sputnik 12 May 2015 -- New documents released on Tuesday by WikiLeaks provide evidence that the German Government was actively involved in assisting the US National Security Agency in mass surveillance on German companies and citizens, which the state had previously denied.
NSA Chief Speaks Out on Surveillance VOA 11 May 2015 -- The United States must create a framework for mass data collection that can quickly yield insights while still protecting citizens' privacy, the nation's cyber chief said Monday.
US Faces Questions About Policing, Counterterrorism in UN Rights Review VOA 11 May 2015 -- U.S. officials faced questions Monday in Geneva about the use of the death penalty, excessive force by police and national security measures as the United Nations' Human Rights Council conducted a review of the country's rights practices.
German Politicians Argue About Intelligence Control After Spying Scandal Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- The two leading German parties - CDU and SPD – have different views on how to make the work of intelligence services more transparent and better control data sharing, according to the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Spy on the Roof: UK Embassy Runs 'Listening Post' in Vienna Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- Britain has a secret embassy-based eavesdropping site in Vienna, the Austrian national public service broadcaster, ORF, reported on Monday.
China manufactures first engine used in large and medium-sized drone People's Daily 11 May 2015 -- The 'Rainbow III' drone with a TD0 sample engine had its first successful flight on April. 29, 2015. China is now able to manufacture TD0 light aeroplane engines used in large and medium-sized drones, breaking a technology and market monopoly.
US spy agency asked German intelligence to snoop on Siemens: Report Press TV 10 May 2015 -- The US National Security Agency asked German intelligence service to spy on the European country's technology giant Siemens, a new report reveals.
NSA Asked German Help in Spying on Siemens Over Alleged Ties With Russia Sputnik 10 May 2015 -- The US National Security Agency (NSA) requested its German counterparts to help them spy on the Germany-based technology giant Siemens, who they claimed had ties with Russia, Bild am Sonntag weekly reported Sunday citing an unnamed intelligence source.
US Congress Mulls Future of Federal Bulk Data Collection VOA 10 May 2015 -- This week brings increased pressure on U.S. lawmakers to reform or reauthorize the National Security Agency's ability to gather domestic telephone records for anti-terrorist purposes, because the program expires at the end of this month.
US spy chief had 'forgotten' about NSA program Press TV 09 May 2015 -- The head of the US intelligence agencies "forgot" the truth when he wrongly told Congress that the government did not deliberately collect information about millions of Americans, according to his top lawyer.
US Appeals Court Finds NSA Phone Record Gathering 'Excessive' VOA 07 May 2015 -- A U.S. appeals court in New York ruled Thursday that the clandestine National Security Agency's massive collection of phone records of Americans is illegal, far exceeding the scope of what Congress authorized.
Appeals court rules NSA bulk data collection illegal Press TV 07 May 2015 -- A federal appeals court ruled the National Security Agency's controversial mass collection of Americans' phone records is illegal.
FBI's secret air force used in Baltimore protests: Police Press TV 07 May 2015 -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) used its secret air force to gather intelligence during the recent anti-police protests in Baltimore, Maryland.
France 'Trusts' Berlin to Investigate Spying Allegations Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- According to French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll, Germany can be trusted to carry out a parliamentary inquiry into the alleged spying on top French officials by its intelligence agencies at the behest of US National Security Agency (NSA).
Merkel Keeps Schtum Over US Spy Documents Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has refused to hand over documents showing the extent of her government's connivance with the US National Security Agency (NSA) in its European spying operations.
New Snowden Files: How the NSA Turns Conversations into Searchable Text Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- The National Security Agency has developed and employed voice recognition technology to create transcripts of phone calls so they can be more easily searched and stored. Privacy advocates are demanding more information as to who might be the technology's intended targets.
French lawmakers approve controversial bill on surveillance powers Press TV 05 May 2015 -- Lawmakers in France have unanimously approved a controversial bill that, if endorsed by the upper house, will provide the government with sweeping surveillance powers on the citizens.
German prosecutor investigates BND spying Press TV 04 May 2015 -- Germany's top public prosecutor is looking into accusations that the country's intelligence agency violated laws by helping the United States spy on European officials and firms.
Merkel Says Germany in Discussions With US Over NSA Surveillance Sputnik 04 May 2015 -- Berlin is engaged in consultations with Washington on the National Security Agency's (NSA) surveillance practices, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday.
Germany's Role in NSA Spying May Have Embarrassing Implications for Merkel Sputnik 03 May 2015 -- The German Green Party and the Left threaten to go to court, if the government fails to disclose what it knows with regard to cooperation between Germany's foreign intelligence agency and its US counterpart, according to the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
Colombia's ex-chief of security police given 14-year jail term Press TV 02 May 2015 -- The former head of Colombia's secret police has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for illegal wiretapping on politicians, judges and journalists.
German Spy Agency BND Used Data Collected for NSA – German Newspaper Sputnik 02 May 2015 -- Germany's foreign intelligence agency BND not only collected information on European politicians and companies for US intelligence but also used data obtained via spying and mass surveillance for its own purposes, according to the Bild newspaper.
NSA Spied on Austria From German Intelligence Station Sputnik 01 May 2015 -- The United States' National Security Agency (NSA) used the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) station in Bad Aibling in Bavaria, to monitor Austrian authorities.

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list