It seems many folks are angry after the latest drip feed revelations from Edward snowden
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/20/gchq-targeted-aid-agencies-german-government-eu-commissionerBritish and American intelligence agencies had a comprehensive list of surveillance targets that included the EU's competition commissioner, German government buildings in Berlin and overseas, and the heads of institutions that provide humanitarian and financial help to Africa, top-secret documents reveal.
The disclosures reflect the breadth of targets sought by the agencies, which goes far beyond the desire to intercept the communications of potential terrorists and criminals, or diplomats and officials from hostile countries. Asked about this activity, a spokesman for GCHQ said it was "longstanding policy that we do not comment on intelligence matters", but the official maintained the agency "takes its obligations under the law very seriously".
It seems pretty clear to myself that these organisations are literally gathering data from any source just on the off chance some nugget is contained within it, however theres a darker more unpalatable side to this collection of data and that's when its done purely to leverage an economic advantage, this is something the NSA is tasked with and that's been the case prior to ww2 and the sole reason they where listening to the Japanese embassy when they intercepted the now infamous clues for an attack on pearl harbour, it wasn't for any military reason they overheard such things, but it sickens me that GCHQ is undertaking the same operations, I had liked to think that such things where not necessary in a open and honest democracy and that people worked hard at building trust with their overseas compatriots and yet here it is all laid out bare for all to see, the UK govt has resorted to becoming the "sneak" of Europe, those with such mighty words have taken the fast road into the gutter with these actions.
