![\"An](\"http:\/\/rt.com\/files\/news\/1f\/5e\/80\/00\/gchq-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe accusations that the US spying program PRISM was shared with the UK\u2019s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) are \u201cbaseless,\u201d Foreign Secretary William Hague told MPs. He deplored classified data leaks, saying they create a \u201cmisleading picture.\u201d<\/p>\n
The British Foreign Secretary had to answer uneasy
\nsecurity-related questions in the House of Commons, as he
\naddressed MPs with a statement on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been suggested that GCHQ uses our partnership with the
\nUnited States to get around UK law, obtaining information that
\nthey cannot legally obtain in the United Kingdom. I wish to be
\nabsolutely clear that this accusation is baseless,\u201d<\/i> Hague
\nstated.<\/p>\n
All the data obtained by British agencies from the US \u201cis
\nsubject to proper UK statutory controls and safeguards,\u201d<\/i> and
\nthe law is upheld \u201cat all times,\u201d<\/i> Hague stressed. To
\nintercept any individual\u2019s communications requires a warrant
\nsigned by the secretary of state, and is \u201cno casual
\nprocess,\u201d<\/i> he assured.<\/p>\n
The methods used by the agencies are \u201csecret, but lawful,\u201d<\/i>
\nHague added, saying that the relationship between GCHQ and the
\nNSA are \u201cunique\u201d<\/i> and \u201cessential\u201d<\/i> to counter
\nterrorist and espionage plots.<\/p>\n
The recent intelligence leak released by the Guardian revealed
\nthe sophisticated US-run PRISM system, which grants the American
\nspy agency NSA direct access to users\u2019 messages, media and files
\nstored on the servers of Google, Facebook, Apple, Yahoo and five
\nother tech giants. The leak also claims that GCHQ has had access
\nto PRISM since at least June 2010.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hague said he \u201cdeplores\u201d<\/i> the leaking of any classified
\ninformation. He said such leaks endanger national security and
\nclaimed they provide only a \u201cpartial and misleading
\npicture.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
However, not all the MPs were satisfied with the secretary\u2019s
\nresponse. Hague was specifically asked if he had been aware of
\nthe PRISM program and how the NSA collects information. He was
\nalso asked, if any member of parliament was being wiretapped at
\nthe moment.<\/p>\n
Hague refused to answer any of those questions.<\/p>\n
He said he would not confirm or deny any aspect of the leaked
\ninformation either.<\/p>\n
The person behind the leak, former NSA consultant Edward Snowden,
\nrevealed himself as the source on Sunday. The 29-year-old said he
\nfled to Hong Kong, seeking asylum there.<\/p>\n
The whistleblower\u2019s story immediately triggered public sympathy
\nand support, and the petition called \u201cPardon Edward Snowden\u201d on
\nthe White House\u2019s We The People website has collected more than
\n23,000 digital signatures in less than 24 hours.<\/p>\n