China echoes Brazil’s call for cyberspace guidelines
October 29, 2013, 11:48 am

Brazil and Germany are enlisting support from 19 other countries to draft a UN resolution against spying [AP]

“The development of the situation recently has proven right what China has repeatedly expressed about cyber security, that cyber security is a common focus of all countries,” said Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a daily press briefing.

“The international community must accelerate the formulation of guidelines for a code of conduct in cyberspace within the UN framework in order to ensure an open, secure internet” added Hua.

The eighth meeting of the UN Internet Governance Forum concluded on October 25 in Bali, Indonesia.

Delegates expressed concern and dissatisfaction over US spying, saying it has harmed other countries’ sovereignty, invaded personal privacy and affected the public’s trust and confidence, Hua said.

The NSA has acknowledged that it intercepted the leaders’ private communications, according to reports by German news agency DPA.

Brazil and Germany are enlisting support from 19 other countries to draft a UN resolution against spying.

Media reports revealed information based on leaked documents provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden that phone and email communications of both Dilma Rousseff and Angela Merkel were under NSA surveillance.

Lode Vanoost, former Deputy Speaker of the Belgian Parliament says that the EU must join Brazil in its battle against such “violations of sovereignty”.

“Join the statement that Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff made at the UN General Assembly and adhere to the five principles for a democratic and transparent internet system  that she stated in her speech. Brazil is working on an email system of its own, to be in operation by the end of November. Do that as well,” Vanoost told The BRICS Post.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, reacting to uproar in Europe over the spying allegations, the US Senate’s intelligence committee has announced a major review of the country’s surveillance operations.

In a major diplomatic fallout, Germany and Spain have both summoned the American ambassadors to explain the spying reports.

Source: Agencies