The European reaction to our surveillance scandal.

Here is my amateurish, very quick translation. Correct me if you find inaccuracies. Thanks.

On the other hand, the European Union's hands are tied with regard to the US (surveillance program): negotiations have been going on for about two years over an information privacy agreement -- but are thus far unsuccessful. The Europeans have been pushing for a long time for the US to accept two basic provisions: First, European citizens need the ability to bring lawsuits before American courts, and also, Europeans are asking that US companies that operate in Europe maintain the high standards set by European information privacy guidelines.

"But the Americans have remained deaf for two years, claims the Commission. The responsible parties appear to be a little puzzled that there is such an uproar at this time. This subject has been known to be under discussion for a long time, but the government has thus far been unwilling to find solutions.

Der EU als solcher sind auf der anderen Seite gegenüber den USA die Hände gebunden: Seit zwei Jahren wird mit Washington über ein Datenschutzabkommen verhandelt – bisher erfolglos. Die Europäer drängen seit langem dar­auf, dass die US-Partner zwei Grundbedingungen akzeptieren sollten: Einerseits müsse es Klagemöglichkeiten für europäische Bürger vor US-Gerichten geben, andererseits verlange man, dass US-Firmen, die in Europa tätig sind, sich an die in der Datenschutzrichtlinie vorgesehenen hohen Standards halten sollen.

"Aber die Amerikaner stellen sich dabei seit zwei Jahren taub", heißt es in der Kommission. Die zuständigen Stellen zeigen sich ein wenig verwundert darüber, dass jetzt so große Aufregung herrsche. Das Thema sei im Grunde ohnehin seit langer Zeit bekannt, aber die Regierungen bisher nicht bereit gewesen, um Lösungen zu finden.

http://derstandard.at/1369363255109/Datenaffaere-EU-fordert-Klagsoption-in-USA-fuer-Europaeer

Looking at the comments section in Le Monde, seems to me that Europeans are becoming wary of Facebook and other social media. I always have been, although I do post on DU.

I don't think that Americans can avoid this information dragnet. Our e-mail communications at least with regard to whom we contact and from whom we receive contacts, may be compromised as may our phone lines.

Must be rather confusing at times for the computers that have to sort out who we are and what we are thinking. There for a while I was getting e-mails from people on both sides of the Israel question. Would that be interpreted as meaning that I am confused? I think that a false picture could be acquired by just checking that kind of data. I don't even read a tenth of the e-mails I get from various organizations. It's just too much.