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U.S. Intelligence Official Disputes Spying Report in French Newspaper U.S. Disputes Reports of Wiretapping in France and Germany
(about 5 hours later)
PARIS — James R. Clapper, the United States director of national intelligence, late Tuesday disputed reports in a French newspaper that American spies recorded data from 70 million phone calls in France in a single 30-day period, calling the reports “misleading.” PARIS — American officials on Wednesday disputed reports in European publications that the United States had tapped the personal cellphone of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and had recorded data from millions of phone calls in France.
In recent days, the French government has vehemently criticized the United States for carrying out extensive electronic eavesdropping within France, adding to discontent expressed by other American allies, including Brazil, Germany, and Mexico, that have been targeted by the National Security Agency’s surveillance program. Ms. Merkel and President Obama spoke by telephone about the allegations concerning her cellphone, the White House said in a statement, and Mr. Obama assured her that the United States “is not monitoring and will not monitor” her communications.
The chancellor’s office did not say how it had come to learn of the allegations, but The Associated Press reported that they arose from research by Der Spiegel, a German newsmagazine that has published several articles about American eavesdropping on European diplomats and officials. Ms. Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Siebert, said tapping the chancellor’s phone would be “a serious breach of trust” and “completely unacceptable.”
James R. Clapper, the United States director of national intelligence, said late on Tuesday that reports in a French newspaper that American spies recorded data from 70 million phone calls in France in a single 30-day period were “misleading.”
In recent days, the French government has vehemently criticized the United States for carrying out extensive electronic eavesdropping within France, adding to discontent expressed by other American allies, including Brazil and Mexico, that have been targets of the National Security Agency’s surveillance program.
On Monday, the French Foreign Ministry summoned the American ambassador, Charles H. Rivkin, after Le Monde reported that the N.S.A. had collected up to 70 million digital communications inside France in a single month, from Dec. 10, 2012, to Jan. 8, 2013.On Monday, the French Foreign Ministry summoned the American ambassador, Charles H. Rivkin, after Le Monde reported that the N.S.A. had collected up to 70 million digital communications inside France in a single month, from Dec. 10, 2012, to Jan. 8, 2013.
In a statement published on the Web site of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Wednesday, Mr. Clapper disputed the newspaper’s reporting, saying recent articles “contain inaccurate and misleading information regarding U.S. foreign intelligence activities.” The statement was reported by The Associated Press late Tuesday.In a statement published on the Web site of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Wednesday, Mr. Clapper disputed the newspaper’s reporting, saying recent articles “contain inaccurate and misleading information regarding U.S. foreign intelligence activities.” The statement was reported by The Associated Press late Tuesday.
“The allegation that the National Security Agency collected more than 70 million ‘recordings of French citizens’ telephone data’ is false,” Mr. Clapper said.“The allegation that the National Security Agency collected more than 70 million ‘recordings of French citizens’ telephone data’ is false,” Mr. Clapper said.
Mr. Clapper did not address additional allegations in Le Monde that the National Security Agency had monitored “French diplomatic interests” at the United Nations and in Washington. The newspaper reported that confidential information garnered by the N.S.A. from eavesdropping had played a “big role” in securing a vote at the United Nations on June 9, 2010, in favor of a resolution imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.Mr. Clapper did not address additional allegations in Le Monde that the National Security Agency had monitored “French diplomatic interests” at the United Nations and in Washington. The newspaper reported that confidential information garnered by the N.S.A. from eavesdropping had played a “big role” in securing a vote at the United Nations on June 9, 2010, in favor of a resolution imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
The disclosures in France were based on documents provided by Edward J. Snowden, the former N.S.A. contractor who has been charged in the United States with espionage and theft. His leaks of N.S.A. materials have pointed an uncomfortable spotlight on the scope of American spying at home and abroad. He has since been both lambasted as a traitor and lauded as a hero for exposing the perils of government spying on private citizens in the digital age.The disclosures in France were based on documents provided by Edward J. Snowden, the former N.S.A. contractor who has been charged in the United States with espionage and theft. His leaks of N.S.A. materials have pointed an uncomfortable spotlight on the scope of American spying at home and abroad. He has since been both lambasted as a traitor and lauded as a hero for exposing the perils of government spying on private citizens in the digital age.
President François Hollande of France expressed “extreme reprobation” following the revelations of the surveillance of French citizens. The White House said President Obama called Mr. Hollande on Monday and acknowledged that some of the reports had raised “legitimate questions for our friends and allies.” President François Hollande of France expressed “extreme reprobation” following the revelations of the surveillance of French citizens.
Mr. Obama’s conversation with Ms. Merkel was the second time this week that the president found himself addressing the surveillance issue with an angry European ally. The White House said President Obama called Mr. Hollande on Monday about the allegations in Le Monde, and acknowledged that some of the reports had raised “legitimate questions for our friends and allies.”
“The president and President Hollande discussed recent disclosures in the press — some of which have distorted our activities, and some of which raise legitimate questions for our friends and allies about how these capabilities are employed,” the White House said in a statement.“The president and President Hollande discussed recent disclosures in the press — some of which have distorted our activities, and some of which raise legitimate questions for our friends and allies about how these capabilities are employed,” the White House said in a statement.
“The president made clear that the United States has begun to review the way that we gather intelligence, so that we properly balance the legitimate security concerns of our citizens and allies with the privacy concerns that all people share. The two presidents agreed that we should continue to discuss these issues in diplomatic channels.”“The president made clear that the United States has begun to review the way that we gather intelligence, so that we properly balance the legitimate security concerns of our citizens and allies with the privacy concerns that all people share. The two presidents agreed that we should continue to discuss these issues in diplomatic channels.”
In late June, following reports in the German magazine Der Spiegel that the United States was spying on the European Union and that the N.S.A. had tapped its offices in Washington, Brussels and the United Nations, European politicians expressed anger and demanded an explanation. In late June, following reports in Der Spiegel that the United States was spying on the European Union and that the N.S.A. had tapped its offices in Washington, Brussels and the United Nations, European politicians expressed anger and demanded an explanation.

Dan Bilefsky reported from Paris, and Alison Smale from Berlin.