From U.S. no great changes in spying activity

After the espionage case Barack Obama finally announced a new regime for the intelligence. Just a light revision is expected

by Emiliano Biaggio

U.S. president Barack Obama announced on Friday partial restrictions on NSA surveillance activity after the spy story blamed by Europe. It's the first time the head of the White House talks about the electronic surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency over European leaders. Obama had the delicate task of assuring commitment in the fight of terrorism on one hand, and in preserving privacy on the other one. For him the main problem was to find a diplomatic and national solution: there not only to regain the international credibility but also to guarantee the internal goals. Obama's announcement was not a revolutionary one: he just promised that the United States will not eavesdrop on the heads of state or government of close U.S. friends and allies. It means that this new policy would apply to dozens of leaders, explained a senior administration official. Nothing is going to change, in substance. As remarked into the presidential policy directive issued the 17th of January, «the collection of signals intelligence is necessary for the United States to advance its national security and foreign policy interests and to protect its citizens and the citizens of its allies and partners from harm». Surveillance will go on. It's a question of national security, and of tradition too. «The United States, like other nations, has gathered intelligence throughout its history». What is going to change, as said, is the "protection" of certain head of State and head of governments. «The leaders of our close friends and allies deserve to know that if I want to learn what they think about an issue, I will pick up the phone and call them, rather than turning to surveillance», said Obama.
   Furthermore, the so called "metadata" programme will be ended as it currently exists. "Metadata" is a lists of million of phone calls made by Americans that show which numbers were called and when. It's managed by the federal government, but Obama proposed to give to third parties - such as telephone companies - the management of all these informations after a legislative review of the subject. «The United States is not spying on ordinary people who don’t threaten our national security», wanted to assure president Obama. Some work started and will remain in progress for some time, but forget about closing the NSA or ending the surveillance activities. The problem is not what to do, but only how to do it.