New York, September 1, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by a report by Der Spiegel saying the United States’ National Security Agency (NSA) accessed Al Jazeera’s internal communications. Citing documents from former NSA contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden, Der Spiegel reported that the NSA hacked into the network’s internal communications system.
“If the NSA accessed Al-Jazeera’s internal communications, this would mark an alarming development in the U.S. approach to media,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “We call on the Obama Administration to launch a full investigation into the NSA’s activities targeting news organizations.”
According to Der Spiegel, is not clear to what extent the intelligence agency spied on journalists or managers of the media company, or whether the surveillance is ongoing.