European Union heads demanded on Tuesday that the United States give assurances it wasn’t illegally spying on European citizens.
“[We] will raise the issue with force and determination” at a planned meeting on Friday with U.S. officials, said EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg, in The Associated Press. “The commission is asking for clear commitments from the United States as to the respect of the fundamental right of EU citizens to data protection.”
Mr. Borg expressed concern that America’s National Security Agency surveillance program, and especially the revelations about PRISM, “potentially endanger the fundamental right of privacy and the data protection of EU citizens,” AP reported.
Mr. Borg said Viviane Reding, the EU’s Justice Commissioner, is expected to take up the issue with the U.S. on Friday.
The PRISM program allows the NSA access to Internet companies’ emails, chats, pictures, files and videos — even those that have been uploaded by users from foreign nations.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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