November 2015 Intelligence News

NSA replaces bulk phone spying program with new surveillance Press TV 28 Nov 2015 -- The US National Security Agency (NSA) is set to replace its massive snooping program with new surveillance measures on Sunday.
US Ending Bulk Telephone Data Program VOA 28 Nov 2015 -- The U.S. federal government will end its bulk collection of data from the telephone calls of millions of Americans at midnight Saturday.
ODNI Announces Transition to New Telephone Metadata Program Director of National Intelligence 27 Nov 2015 -- In January 2014, in a speech at the Department of Justice to address domestic and international concerns regarding U.S. intelligence activities, President Obama announced that the Intelligence Community would end the NSA bulk telephony metadata program conducted under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act.
France, Russia Agree to Exchange IS Intelligence VOA 26 Nov 2015 -- French President Francois Hollande said Thursday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to exchange intelligence on the Islamic State militants and other extremist groups in Syria to maximize the effectiveness of their bombing campaigns.
NATO spy drone goes down in central Afghanistan Press TV 25 Nov 2015 -- An unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the US-led NATO has reportedly gone down in Afghanistan's central province of Parwan.
Soviet Spy To Be Freed From U.S. Custody After 30 Years RFE/RL 24 Nov 2015 -- A former U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) employee convicted in 1986 of spying for the Soviet Union is set to be freed after three decades in federal custody.
Iran Sentences Washington Post Journalist To Prison RFE/RL 22 Nov 2015 -- A court in Iran has sentenced Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian to an unspecified prison term following his conviction last month on charges that include espionage, Iranian media report.
Iran Sentences US Journalist to Prison in Espionage Case VOA 22 Nov 2015 -- Iran said Sunday it has sentenced detained Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian to an unspecified prison term following his conviction last month on espionage charges.
The NSA is Still Spying on Your Email, Even After Saying It Had Stopped Sputnik 21 Nov 2015 -- When the NSA was caught collecting Americans' email data in 2013, the agency said it had already shut down the program two years earlier. In reality, it stopped in name only, according to newly disclosed documents.
Government of Japan-RQ-4 Block 30 (I) Global Hawk Remotely Piloted Aircraft DSCA 20 Nov 2015 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Japan for RQ-4 Block 30 (I) Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on November 19, 2015.
Jailed Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard released: Israeli PM office Press TV 20 Nov 2015 -- Jonathan Pollard, an Israeli spy who had been imprisoned in a US jail, has been released, according to a statement by the office of the Israeli prime minister.
Pollard, American Who Spied for Israel, Released From US Prison VOA 20 Nov 2015 -- Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard was released on parole Friday after spending 30 years in a U.S. prison, a move welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Upgraded E-3 Sentry deploys to combat theater AFNS 19 Nov 2015 -- The long-awaited, highly anticipated deployment of the E-3 Sentry (AWACS) Block 40/45 is finally over, with the deployment of the first upgraded weapon system to a combat theater of operations.
National Counterintelligence and Security Center Releases National Counterintelligence Strategy Director of National Intelligence 18 Nov 2015 -- Today the ODNI's National Counterintelligence and Security Center released the 2016 National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States of America. The strategy, which was approved by President Obama, sets forth how the U.S. Government will identify and disrupt foreign intelligence entity threats.
Snowden undermined US security: CIA chief Brennan Press TV 18 Nov 2015 -- John Brennan, the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, has lashed out at renowned whistle-blower Edward Snowden for what he calls undermining the nation's security.
Russian Physicist Jailed For High Treason RFE/RL 18 Nov 2015 -- A Moscow court has sentenced a physicist to nine years in prison on charges of high treason.
President: Iran ready for security, intelligence cooperation with France to fight terrorism IRNA 17 Nov 2015 -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready for security and intelligence cooperation with France in campaign against terrorism.
German Secret Agent Admits to Spying for CIA, Cites Boredom as Reason Sputnik 17 Nov 2015 -- A former German secret service agent charged with treason has admitted to spying for the CIA during his court trial in Munich.
Fumbles, Mistakes Prompt Talk of Major French Intelligence Failure VOA 17 Nov 2015 -- In the wake of the Paris attacks, wary and overstretched European intelligence services are asking themselves what more they can do to prevent the kind of terrorism that struck the French capital.
Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on Intelligence Sharing with France DoD 16 Nov 2015 -- "Over the past year, the United States has been working closely with the French military, intelligence, and security services to strengthen intelligence sharing to prosecute counter terrorism threats around the globe, specifically ISIL."
CIA Chief: US Has Not Underestimated IS VOA 16 Nov 2015 -- The United States has not underestimated the Islamic State group, CIA Director John Brennan said Monday.
Global Hawk reaches new milestone, helps in fight against ISIL AFNS 13 Nov 2015 -- As the morning sun beat down on its nearly 131-foot wingspan, the EQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft descended from its 60,000-foot perch for the 500th time, coming to rest at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Nov. 11.
More British Snooping Powers Needed to Keep ISIL Terrorists Off the Street Sputnik 13 Nov 2015 -- Britain's top prosecutor thinks the public should tolerate more surveillance to enable authorities to jail returning Islamic State jihadis. However, the UK government's current attempts to update state security is facing strong opposition from critics who say they are devoid of strong safeguards.
Libyan authorities take into custody suspected UAE spy Press TV 12 Nov 2015 -- Authorities in Libya's capital city of Tripoli say they have arrested a police officer from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on suspicion of serving as a spy.
Germany spied on FBI, US arms companies: Report Press TV 12 Nov 2015 -- Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND) has been accused of spying on a long list of targets including friendly nations and agencies, including the FBI, US arms companies, and UN Children's Fund.
Hollande Demands Germany Probe BND Spying on French FM Fabius Sputnik 12 Nov 2015 -- Francois Hollande demanded that Berlin hand over all information concerning claims that its intelligence agency had spied on the French top diplomat.
Russian Policeman Found Guilty of Passing Russian State Secrets to CIA Sputnik 12 Nov 2015 -- The Moscow Regional Court has found a former Russian policeman guilty of espionage over selling Russian state secrets to the CIA, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Thursday.
Russian Ex-policeman Convicted as CIA Spy VOA 12 Nov 2015 -- A court in Moscow has convicted a former policeman and sentenced him to 13 years in prison for passing state secrets to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
FSB Says Ex-Interior Ministry Employee Convicted As U.S. Spy RFE/RL 12 Nov 2015 -- Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) says a Moscow Regional Court has convicted a former employee of Russia's Interior Ministry on charges of high treason as a spy for the United States.
German Bundestag Committee Unable to Fully Supervise Intelligence Agency Sputnik 11 Nov 2015 -- The German parliamentary oversight committee (PKG) is not capable of supervising the BND, the country's intelligence agency, on a full scale, committee head Andre Hahn said Wednesday.
German Intelligence Spied on Own Diplomat, French Foreign Minister Sputnik 11 Nov 2015 -- The German intelligence agency (BND) has been spying on Hansjorg Haber, a German diplomat and head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, in a possible breach of the country's constitution, local media reported Wednesday.
Russia's Eastern Military District to Obtain Orlan-10, Takhion UAVs in 2015 Sputnik 10 Nov 2015 -- Armed Forces of Russia's Eastern Military District (EMD) are expected to receive more than 10 Takhion and Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) before the end of the year, EMD press service said in a statement Tuesday.
US judge declares NSA spying unconstitutional Press TV 10 Nov 2015 -- A US federal judge has, for the second time in as many years, called the phone data collection by the National Security Agency unconstitutional.
Lebanon arrests three for spying for Israel Press TV 08 Nov 2015 -- Authorities in Lebanon have arrested three people for spying on Lebanon's military and security bodies and individuals for the Israeli regime.
German secret service BND systematically spied on allies: Report Press TV 07 Nov 2015 -- Germany's secret service has "systematically spied" on the country's allies and other international organizations, a report says.
Open Source: Britain's MI5 to Be Given Major New Powers to Spy Online Sputnik 07 Nov 2015 -- The UK government has proposed a new bill which gives the police and intelligence agencies special powers to get access to individuals' communications data.
Germany's Spy Program Revealed as Much Bigger Than Anyone Thought Sputnik 07 Nov 2015 -- Recently emerged reports reveal that Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND, had systematically spied on friends and allies around the world to a much greater extent than previously reported on, and on its own accord, not simply at the request of the NSA, according to Der Spiegel magazine.
Why is Russia Interested in Undersea Internet Cables? VOA 06 Nov 2015 -- It seems like something more fitting of a Cold War-era James Bond movie script than present-day reality: unnamed Pentagon officials circulating reports that Russian naval vessels and submarines are lurking around undersea cables that link the U.S. to Europe and Asia.
Spy Watchdog Launches Probe Into New Zealand's Links to CIA Torture Sputnik 05 Nov 2015 -- New Zealand's spy watchdog has launched an investigation aimed at determining if the country had any connection to the Central Intelligence Agency's notorious detention and interrogation program.
Russia's Military Reconnaissance Adopts Orlan, Eleron Drones Sputnik 05 Nov 2015 -- Military reconnaissance units of the Russian Armed Forces have started to use Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including the Eleron and Orlan models, a Russian Defense Ministry's Land Force spokesman said Thursday.
Lithuanian Sentenced To Prison For Spying For Belarus RFE/RL 05 Nov 2015 -- A Lithuanian court has jailed a former employee of the country's air traffic control service after finding him guilty of spying for neighboring Belarus.
U.S. Official: Countering Kremlin Propaganda Is Long-Term Effort RFE/RL 04 Nov 2015 -- A State Department official has said U.S. efforts to counter misinformation and propaganda generated by the Kremlin will be a long-term effort that includes bolstering independent media in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
UK Seeks Blanket Surveillance With Proposed Investigatory Powers Bill Sputnik 04 Nov 2015 -- The UK government is seeking to impose widespread surveillance on the country's population, the head of the New Communist Party of Britain told Sputnik Wednesday as Home Secretary Theresa May introduced a new draft surveillance bill.
Draft Surveillance Bill to Provide 'Strongest' Protection Sputnik 04 Nov 2015 -- The new Investigatory Powers Bill will institutionalize surveillance, giving police and intelligence services access to browsing history and personal communications.
UK govt. backpedals on plan to snoop on Internet users Press TV 01 Nov 2015 -- The British government has abandoned a controversial plan to allow the police and security services full access to people's Internet browsing history.
New UK Surveillance Bill Stops Short of Fully Banning Data Encryption Sputnik 01 Nov 2015 -- New British contentious surveillance bill seeks to expand the role of security services but stops short of fully banning data encryption, Home Secretary Theresa May said Sunday.vv

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list

One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger - by Matthew Yglesias