Obama: ‘There is no country where we have a no-spy agreement,’ but vows to protect privacy

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says there is no country with which the United States has “a no-spy agreement.” But he says the United States endeavours to protect privacy rights as it collects foreign intelligence.

Obama says the United States and its allies remain concerned about specific potential terrorist networks that could attack and kill innocent people. He says the U.S. will have to maintain a robust intelligence gathering effort, but says it will respect privacy.

Obama made his remarks during a joint news conference with French President Francois Hollande.

The Obama administration has come under severe criticism from allies in Europe and elsewhere following revelations that their leaders had been subject to U.S. spying.