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Barack Obama pledges greater surveillance transparency Barack Obama pledges greater surveillance transparency
(35 minutes later)
President Barack Obama has promised "appropriate reforms" to guarantee greater oversight of controversial US surveillance programmes.President Barack Obama has promised "appropriate reforms" to guarantee greater oversight of controversial US surveillance programmes.
At a White House news conference, he proposed "safeguards against abuse", including amending legislation on the collection of telephone data.At a White House news conference, he proposed "safeguards against abuse", including amending legislation on the collection of telephone data.
Mr Obama also urged allowing a lawyer to challenge decisions by the nation's secretive surveillance court.Mr Obama also urged allowing a lawyer to challenge decisions by the nation's secretive surveillance court.
He has been defending the programmes since they were leaked in June.He has been defending the programmes since they were leaked in June.
Mr Obama said on Friday that the US "can and must be more transparent". Mr Obama said on Friday that the US "can and must be more transparent" about its snooping on phone and internet data.
"Given the history of abuse by governments, it's right to ask questions about surveillance, particularly as technology is reshaping every aspect of our lives," he told reporters."Given the history of abuse by governments, it's right to ask questions about surveillance, particularly as technology is reshaping every aspect of our lives," he told reporters.
"It's not enough for me as president to have confidence in these programmes," Mr Obama added. "The American people need to have confidence as well.""It's not enough for me as president to have confidence in these programmes," Mr Obama added. "The American people need to have confidence as well."
Snowden 'no patriot'Snowden 'no patriot'
He said his administration would also make public documents on surveillance and appoint a body of outside experts to help ensure a balance between security and privacy. Mr Obama unveiled four steps aimed at reassuring Americans about the surveillance:
The president went on to accuse Russia of "backward" thinking, following its decision to grant asylum to Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who disclosed details of the secretive surveillance programmes to media. The president went on to accuse Russia of "backward" thinking, following its recent decision to grant asylum to Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who disclosed details of the secretive surveillance programmes to media.
Although he played down talk of a serious diplomatic rift with Moscow, Mr Obama said there had been more anti-American rhetoric since President Vladimir Putin returned to Russian presidency. In response to a journalist's question about the fugitive, Mr Obama said: "No, I don't think Mr Snowden was a patriot."
The White House this week cancelled a planned summit between Mr Obama and Mr Putin next month in the Russian capital.
Although on Friday he played down talk of a serious diplomatic rift with Moscow, Mr Obama said there had been more anti-American rhetoric since President Vladimir Putin returned to Russian presidency that "played into some of the old stereotypes about the Cold War contest".
He said that during photocalls with President Putin, the Russian leader "has got that kind of slouch, looking like he's the bored kid in the back of the classroom". But he said their discussions in private had been constructive.He said that during photocalls with President Putin, the Russian leader "has got that kind of slouch, looking like he's the bored kid in the back of the classroom". But he said their discussions in private had been constructive.
In response to a journalist's question about Mr Snowden, Mr Obama said: "No, I don't think Mr Snowden was a patriot." Mr Obama said he would not consider it "appropriate" to boycott Russia's Winter Olympics next year, despite calls by gay rights activists to boycott the games because of a recently passed law in that country banning "homosexual propaganda".
The White House this week cancelled a planned summit between Mr Obama and Mr Putin next month in Moscow. Earlier on Friday, the US secretaries of defence and state, high talks with their Russian counterparts in Washington.