The New York Times reports that a recently revealed but classified National Security Agency (NSA) document authorizes the agency to conduct surveillance activities targeting Great Britain (and other close allies), without consent or knowledge, despite a pact between the nations to the contrary.
Labeled “secret” and “NOFORN” (an indication it may not be shared with foreign nations), the draft document is dated January 2005, according to The Times, and seemingly reflects an understanding between the United States and Britain that spying on each other’s citizens may be permissible under extraordinary circumstances.
The Times reached out to the NSA for comment and received the following reply to its questions:
NSA works with a number of partners and allies in meeting its foreign-intelligence mission goals, and in every case those operations comply with US and with the applicable laws under which those partners and allies operate.
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