WikiLeaks releases files that claim NSA spied on French presidents

Documents published late Tuesday by WikiLeaks purport to show that the U.S. National Security Agency eavesdropped on the last three presidents of France.

A spokesman for WikiLeaks told The Associated Press the group is confident the documents are real, adding that previous files have been genuine. Claudine Ripert-Landler, a senior spokeswoman for French President Francois Hollande, said Hollande would convene "the Defense Council to evaluate the nature of the information reported in the media and draw the necessary conclusions." An aide to Nicolas Sarkozy who was not authorized to be publicly identified said the former president considered eavesdropping unacceptable, especially from an ally.

WikiLeaks says that from 2006 to 2012, the NSA intercepted communications on the Middle East peace process, a UN appointment, and the Euro crisis. After it came to light that the NSA had reportedly eavesdropped on German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone, President Obama ordered a review of the agency's surveillance of allies, and then told them to stop spying on the leaders. Last year, Hollande said he spoke with Obama about his concerns over NSA surveillance, and the two got together and overcame their differences.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up