Intel Chief: Allies Spy on U.S. Too

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The National Intelligence Director James Clapper defended surveillance on Tuesday by saying that while America may spy on its allies, they do it to us too — because it’s necessary, the Associated Press reports.

“That’s a hardy perennial,” Clapper told a House intelligence committee hearing.

Committee Chairman Mike Rogers asked him whether allies had conducted the same type of espionage against U.S. leaders, and Clapper responded, “Absolutely.”

Clapper also said that reports that the National Security Agency took millions of phone records in France, Spain and elsewhere were inaccurate. In fact, NATO alies were collecting “metadata” that they shared with the United States.

[AP]