That’s what’s called “bad form” and just a tad hypocritical.
France is reputed to have one of the most active spying operations on the planet (and yes, they do spy on us, too).
Via The Daily Mail:
A French minister has publicly dressed down the United States during the American ambassador’s July 4 garden party.
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls denounced the U.S. ‘espionage’ of France and other countries.
Valls was guest of honor at the fete hosted by Ambassador Charles Rivkin in Paris today.
In a speech before hundreds of guests, he said that ‘in the name of our friendship, we owe each other honesty. We must say things clearly, directly, frankly.’
He said that President Francois Hollande’s demand for clear and precise explanations about reports of U.S. spying are justified because ‘such practices, if proven, do not have their place between allies and partners.’
European countries agreed yesterday that planned talks on free trade with the U.S. must start in parallel with discussions on National Security Agency surveillance.
The speech comes after revelations that French security agents regularly spy illegally on people’s phone calls, emails, and social media activity, intelligence sources confirmed today.
Revelations about the covert activities follow President Francois Hollande attacking America for its own espionage activities, and saying they should stop ‘immediately’.