大象传媒 dismayed at German 'BND spying on journalists'

Image source, AP

Image caption, The BND has a huge listening post at Bad Aibling near Munich

The 大象传媒 has voiced dismay over alleged German spying on foreign journalists, including some working for the 大象传媒.

Germany's foreign intelligence service BND spied on media e-mails, faxes and phone calls, including more than a dozen 大象传媒 numbers in London and Afghanistan, Spiegel news reported.

The surveillance, which began in 1999, also extended to Reuters news agency and the New York Times, it is alleged.

"We are disappointed to hear these claims," a 大象传媒 spokesperson said.

"The 大象传媒's mission is to bring accurate news and information to people around the world, and our journalists should be able to operate freely and safely, with full protection for their sources. We call upon all governments to respect the operation of a free press."

The 大象传媒 has approached the BND about the allegations, but has so far not received a response.

Spiegel reports that at least 50 numbers used by international journalists were monitored by the BND.

The respected German news organisation plans to release more details about the alleged spying on Saturday.

It has seen documents from a German parliament (Bundestag) inquiry into the BND's role in US-led mass surveillance.

US whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the global scale of surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA) which, he said, was assisted by the BND and the UK spy agency GCHQ.

On 16 February Chancellor Angela Merkel testified before the Bundestag inquiry. According to the revelations, she was among the NSA's targets.