Swedish Politicians Express Concern Over Reports Of Connections With NSA

RT reports that Swedish politicians have come forward to express concerns over public allegations that the Swedish government has been cooperating extensively with the NSA and GCHQ. Sweden’s Green Party IT policy spokeswoman stated that:

“It’s a very serious matter if Sweden is indeed involved in American surveillance programs. I’m very concerned about the information that came up in the hearing.”

Sweden is reported to have provided the USA’s NSA and the UK’s GCHQ (pictured above) with access to Baltic underwater internet cables. The allegations put the Swedish National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) at the heart of the scandal and unsurprisingly they declined to comment.

Sweden’s Democracy Minister, Birgitta Ohlsson of the Liberal Party (Folkpartiet), also commented on the new revelations stating that:

“I absolutely think this is not good. I’ve also been engaged in issues related to personal privacy and transparency in Sweden and I think in all countries, including Sweden, the EU, and the United States…that things have gone too far.”

Sweden’s Defense Minister Karin Enström stated that such cooperations with other countries are “critical for our security” with rules that “balance security and privacy interests.” 

“Intelligence operations occur within a framework with clear legislation, with strict controls, and under parliamentary oversight” Read part of Enström’s public statement.

Image courtesy of Reuters / Nigel Roddis