14 June 2021
Politico, 3 June 2021.
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"Vestager dodges tough questions on US spy scandal
Is the EU digital supremo a privacy protector or an espionage enabler?
Margrethe Vestager, the EU's superstar flagbearer for digital rights, is facing awkward questions about hi-tech snooping that allegedly took place while she was seen as Denmark's most powerful politician.
Danish media outlet DR reported Sunday that Copenhagen helped American spies harvest intelligence from Germany, Sweden and other European countries between 2012 and 2014 — a period when Vestager was widely viewed as the most influential player in government, in her role as de facto deputy prime minister, with a seat on a committee for security oversight.
That timeline threatens to embarrass the European Commission's digital supremo, who is best known internationally for her landmark antitrust cases against the likes of Google and Apple. There are two possible scenarios regarding the U.S. espionage and both pose a political danger. She either knew about the alleged U.S. spy activity through Danish facilities, which would tarnish her transparency credentials, or she didn't know, which raises deeper questions about accountability in the Danish government and security services during her years in office.
The revelations have gone down badly for Denmark. France's President Emmanuel Macron said he was "waiting for answers" from Copenhagen and Washington, while U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden has added fuel to the fire by alleging Denmark collaborated in a U.S. plot to kidnap him in 2013."
Source: Politico, 3 June 2021
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