US Surveillance Dragnet Exposed
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SUBSCRIPTION SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 RAJAB 29, 1434 AH No: 15833 Turkey PM hits back at protest criticism7 US surveillance dragnet exposed Max 43º 150 Fils Big Brother: Internet mining adds to phone-tap row Min 25º WASHINGTON: The emerging scope of a huge US dragnet of Internet and phone data, exposed by leaks and reports, put the White House on the defensive yesterday and sparked a backlash from an angry top spy chief. New revelations that the anti-terror agents from the FBI and National Security Agency (NSA) were tapping servers of nine Internet giants - including Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, YouTube and Google - set Washington abuzz. The reports deepened controversy over the post-Sept 11 surveillance infrastructure set up by US intel- ligence agencies, after leaks detailed a wide ranging sweep of phone records, also by the NSA. President Barack Obama yesterday staunchly defended the surveillance programs, insisting that they were conducted with broad safeguards to protect against abuse. “Nobody is listening to your telephone calls. That’s not what this program is about,” Obama told reporters on a visit to California’s Silicon Valley. He insisted that the surveillance programs struck the right balance between keeping Americans safe from terrorist attack and protecting their privacy. Obama was in California to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later yesterday, but he and aides will likely face sharp questions over the affair. The Washington Post, citing a career intelligence officer, reported late Thursday that the NSA had direct access to Internet firm servers, to track an individual’s web presence via audio, video, photographs and emails. The anti-terror pro- gram is aimed only at non-Americans who are not on US soil, officials said. Some of the biggest firms in Silicon Valley were caught up in the program, known as PRISM, including Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, Apple, PalTalk, AOL, Skype and YouTube, the reports said. The paper said the leak came from a career intelligence officer “with firsthand experi- SAN JOSE, California: US President Barack Obama makes a statement to reporters at the Fairmont Hotel yesterday. The ence of these systems and horror at their capabilities”. “They president defended his government’s secret surveillance, saying Congress has repeatedly authorized the collection of quite literally can watch your ideas form as you type,” the offi- America’s phone records and US Internet use. — AP cer was quoted as saying. Internet giants however denied opening their doors for US spy agencies. “We have never heard of PRISM,” said Apple KIA sweetens Severn bid spokesman Steve Dowling. “We do not provide any govern- ment agency with direct access to our servers, and any gov- LONDON: A consortium led by a board on 30 May 2013, and beats an sortium said in a statement. “We look ernment agency requesting customer data must get a court Kuwaiti sovereign wealth fund and two earlier approach of 2,125 pence per forward to engaging with the Severn order.” Facebook’s chief security officer Joe Sullivan said the pension companies raised its proposed share which Severn Trent rejected on Trent board to enable us to make our huge social network did not provide any access to govern- offer for Severn Trent to £5.3 billion June 3 as unreflective of its long-term formal offer to Severn Trent sharehold- ment organizations. Google and Microsoft were also adamant ($8.2 billion) yesterday, sending the potential. A top 20 Severn Trent institu- ers. Without engagement there can be that they only disclose what is legally demanded. British water utility’s share price up by tional shareholder said the price was no offer from the consortium.” In response to the reports, also carried by Britain’s as much as 9 percent. LongRiver right and expects other big investors to The pre-conditional offer represents Guardian newspaper, the White House said Americans were Partners comprising the Kuwait view the offer favourably. “A bid at 22 a premium of 34 percent to the average not being spied on, but did not deny the program existed. “It Investment Office, Britain’s Universities pounds seems a very fair out-turn,” the closing price of a Severn Trent share for involves extensive procedures, specifically approved by the Superannuation Scheme and Borealis investor said. the six months to May 13, the last day court, to ensure that only non-US persons outside the US are Infrastructure, which is part of Canadian LongRiver said its offer was condi- prior to the announcement by Severn targeted, and that minimize the acquisition, retention and dis- pension fund OMERS, submitted a con- tional on satisfactory due diligence Trent that it had received an approach semination of incidentally acquired information about US per- ditional cash offer of 2,200 pence for checks on the Severn Trent business from the consortium, LongRiver said. sons,” a US official said. each Severn Trent share to the compa- and the recommendation of the utility’s Britain’s water and sewerage firms have As a damage control operation gathered pace, America’s ny’s board. Shares in Severn Trent rose board. It also said it was encouraging long attracted interest from yield-hun- top spy chief James Clapper warned that data gathered under as much as 9 percent to 2,200 pence the board to engage with the consor- gry investors drawn by their stable cash the program was “among the most important and valuable after the announcement before settling tium before the ‘put up or shut up’ flows and a favourable regulatory struc- foreign intelligence information we collect”. “The unautho- back to trade at 2,105 pence by 1402 deadline for making a formal offer of ture. Seven the country’s 10 water com- rized disclosure of information about this important and GMT. 1600 GMT on June 11. “LongRiver’s pro- panies are now in the hands of private entirely legal program is reprehensible and risks important The offer is inclusive of the final divi- posal of 2,200 pence per share in cash investors, with Pennon Group, United protections for the security of Americans,” said Clapper, the dend of 45.51 pence per Severn Trent represents certain and compelling value Utilities and Severn Trent the remaining director of national intelligence. — AFP share proposed by the British group’s for Severn Trent shareholders,” the con- listed entities. — Reuters LOCAL SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2013 letters to Badriya Equal before law Greetings Badrya, The officials at the Ministry of Interior have to think about what you wrote in the last para about “implementing laws in a decent way that suits our beautiful Islamic Sharia laws and the manners of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).” I just want to add one small thing: During Salaah, everyone, whether poor or rich, Kuwaiti or expat stand in one line, shoulder to shoulder. When everyone is same in front of Allah, then why Constitution is not equally applicable to all? Send home illegal residents, but at the same time, punish those individuals who were responsible for trading visas. Yesterday, one of my best friends went on a vacation. I could not go to the airport to drop him, as there are reports that police was catching individuals saying that you are driving illegal taxis. Nowadays we cannot go out with a friend also. I would like to suggest that the MOI should issue another card, declaring that a person’s salary is KD400 or more (similar to family visa cap), so that these people can go out with their friends without fear. Long live Kuwait. Regards, Mohammed The root cause Dear Madam, I read your article ‘Not worth the drama scene’. Thank you so much and so kind of you for your courageous voice and sensible concern towards unfortunate people. Kindly consider these solutions and raise them vociferously so that Kuwaiti authorities will address the root causes, instead of leaving the expat community horrified by creating ‘as if a war sit- uation.’ 1) A reasonable time period, a kind of grace period, should be immediately granted to all those found in violation of residency visas. All the countries’ embassies should be made as a facilita- Al-Rashidi to present new tion centers so that the visa breakers can get a chance to correct their visa status. And if they fail, they should leave the country gracefully. strategy to combat graft 2) Similarly a grace period should be declared for Driving License Holders, who want to cancel/surrender their driving licenses. ‘Fake workforce must be purged’ (After the grace period, Kuwaiti authorities can revoke the driving licenses with certain attributes. (eg There are so many KUWAIT: Social Affairs and Labor Minister not be allowed to contact any ministry employ- ministry on account of violating law No people who received the driving license in first attempt during a Thekra Al-Rashidi announced a new strategy to ees lest anyone could bring any influence to 135/2001. He said the National Labor Union driving test. This is a clear case of Wasta driving licenses. So as an deal with the labor sector and the corruption work on them. will send an official complaint to the initial step, revoking the visas of those who passed the driving that has come to afflict its various departments, About the presence of three million work- International Labor Organization in which it test in their first attempt will force the Wasta seekers to go adding that she will present it to the council of ers in the country, and the fact that the market will mention all these violations. through that channel twice.) ministers for approval. Al-Rashidi said in a is reeling under severe shortage of laborers The amount collected as nomination fee 3) Cancellation of sponsorship system: The root cause of statement to the press that the strategy includ- and having to pay higher salaries, Ajmi Al- from members of the annulled National Labour Law violations in Kuwait is because of the ‘Sponsorship ed setting up service centers to be run by the Mutalaqim said, “Most of the available labor Assembly was not used by the Interior Ministry, System’.