With the US government's determined efforts to treat information about the negotiations for the Trans Pacific Trade Partnership as top secret and classified it really should come as no surprise to find out that the NSA and its friends have their grubby hands in the process. Thanks to the bounteous riches from Edward Snowden this come our way.
US law firm was 'caught in NSA surveillance net' in Indonesia
An unnamed US law firm was caught up in surveillance involving the National Security Agency and its Australian counterpart, according to a report released on Saturday.
The New York Times reported that a top-secret document obtained by the former NSA contractor Edward Snowden showed the firm was monitored “while representing a foreign government in trade disputes with the US”.
According to the Times, the government of Indonesia retained the law firm for trade talks which were under surveillance by the Australian Signals Directorate. The Australian agency offered to share information with the NSA.
So here are American citizens practicing trade law and being spied on by the agency that claims to be protecting Americans from terrorism. This confirms the growing impression that most of the activities of the NSA and if other four eyes (UK, Canada, Australia and NZ) are really in the business of economic espionage.
The American Public is being told that they can't be informed about the content of the negotiations because it is necessary to protect the confidences of the negotiating partners. Oh puleeeez!