German's Bundestag is conducting an investigation into the US National Security Agency's online spying program exposed in 2013 by ex-NSA employee Edward Snowden. The agency spied on millions of Americans, Europeans and others worldwide with the assistance of Britain's spy agency Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
FOCUS said it had been informed about consultations on Wednesday night between German foreign intelligence chief Gerhard Schindler and the committee behind the NSA probe.
According to the German outlet, the intel chief told the leaders of the inquiry about a strain in relations with his British colleagues. He said Brits feared that the German parliament would reveal sensitive encryption information and other techniques used by both intelligence agencies.
Above all, Germany was outraged after NSA was caught tapping the private cell phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel, an activity reported to be against existing agreements between the spy agencies.
