The PRISM programme does not collect private internet data haphazardly and without supervision, US Attorney General Eric Holder said Friday, as he tried to assuage European fears about the controversial surveillance undertaking, dpa reported. "That programme facilitates the targeted acquisition of foreign intelligence information concerning foreign targets located outside the US under court oversight," Holder told journalists in Ireland after talks with European Union counterparts. "The government cannot target anyone ... unless there is an appropriate and a documented foreign intelligence purpose for the acquisition, such as the prevention of terrorism, hostile cyber activities or nuclear proliferation," he added. Holder also dismissed allegations that the programme is "not subject to internal or external oversight" as "simply not correct," noting that there are supervision procedures in place involving the courts, the US Congress and the executive branch of the government. The EU had demanded that the US provide an explanation for allegations by whistleblower and ex-CIA employee Edward Snowden that it had collected large amounts of phone and internet data abroad. Concerns are rife that the data of European internet users was harvested, potentially in violation of EU data protection rules. EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding welcomed the details provided by Holder, noting that "many things which made European citizens fear that there was some kind of Big Brother intrusion into their privacy could be explained to be different." But EU officials also noted that some of their questions remain unanswered. -- SPA 18:08 LOCAL TIME 15:08 GMT تغريد
