Snowden files: British intelligence agency intercepted emails of journalists from top media outlets

BBC, Reuters and the New York Times among organisations whose emails saved and shared on GCHQ’s intranet

Analysis of documents released by Edward Snowden have revealed how the British government's Communications Headquarters’ (GCHQ) intercepted electronic communications, including emails to and from journalists who worked in some of the largest media organisations of the US and the UK, the Guardian reported on Monday.

The BBC, Reuters, the Guardian, the New York Times, Le Monde, the Sun, NBC and the Washington Post were among the big name media organisations whose emails were saved by GCHQ and shared on the agency’s intranet as part of a test exercise.

The emails were among the 70,000 that were intercepted in a span of less than 10 minutes on a day in November 2008 by one of GCHQ’s numerous taps. The correspondence included emails between reporters and editors discussing stories, which was available to all cleared staff on the agency's intranet.

Other UK intelligence documents revealed by Snowden show that a GCHQ information security assessment listed “investigative journalists” as a threat.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) has been used to access journalists’ communications without a warrant. Under Ripa, the police and security services do not need permission of a judge to investigate a UK national’s phone records.

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