Barack Obama has signed a
law extending data privacy protections to non-US citizens amid a
row over alleged US snooping on Silvio Berlusconi during his
last term as premier.
The bill allows foreign citizens of allied countries to sue
the US government if their data is unlawfully disclosed.
The law aims to rebuild trust among allies after former
National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden
revealed details of the agency's secret surveillance programme,
including alleged tapping of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's
mobile phone.
On Tuesday Italian media carried Wikileaks reports that the
NSA's Special Collection Service (SCS) had tapped Silvio
Berlusconi's phones when he was near the end of his third term
as premier in 2011.
The foreign ministry summoned United States Ambassador John
Phillips for clarification and Rome called the case
"unacceptable".
Rome prosecutors are investigating.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
