View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
January 19, 2015updated 20 Jan 2015 11:53am

UK journalists’ emails grabbed by GCHQ, reporters seen as ‘threat to security’ – Guardian

By William Turvill

Material released by Edward Snowden reportedly shows that investigative journalists “who specialise in defence-related exposes” are of “specific concern” to GCHQ.

The Guardian today reports that “investigative journalists” are considered alongside terrorists and hackers in a hierarchy in a GCHQ “information security assessment”.

The newspaper also reports that the emails of its staff, as well as journalists from The Sun, BBC, Reuters, New York Times, Le Monde, NBC and the Washington Post, have been saved and made available to staff at the Government agency.

Analysis of Snowden documents reportedly shows that 70,000 emails, obtained during a ten-minute period in November 2008, were shared on the agency’s intranet as part of a test exercise by the Signals Intelligence Agency.

The Guardian reports there is nothing to indicate journalists were deliberately targeted, but that emails between “reporters and editors discussing stories” as well as PR emails were made available to “cleared staff on the agency intranet”.

It reported: “The mails appeared to have been captured and stored as the output of a then-new tool being used to strip irrelevant data out of the agency’s tapping process.”

The newspaper also reports on new evidence showing the threat of journalists listed alongside terrorists and hackers.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

One restricted document for those in army intelligence warned that “journalists and reporters representing all types of news media represent a potential threat to security”.

It said: “Of specific concern are ‘investigative journalists’ who specialise in defence-related exposés either for profit or what they deem to be of the public interest.

“All classes of journalists and reporters may try either a formal approach or an informal approach, possibly with off-duty personnel, in their attempts to gain official information to which they are not entitled.”

It also reportedly warned staff that these approaches should be “immediately reported”.

A spokesman for GCHQ told the paper: “It is longstanding policy that we do not comment on intelligence matters. Furthermore, all of GCHQ’s work is carried out in accordance with a strict legal and policy framework, which ensures that our activities are authorised, necessary and proportionate, and that there is rigorous oversight, including from the secretary of state, the interception and intelligence services commissioners and the parliamentary intelligence and security committee.

“All our operational processes rigorously support this position. In addition, the UK’s interception regime is entirely compatible with the European convention on human rights.”

Topics in this article : , ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network