Three related NSA spying news items from last week

Last week, I read three reports of cases where countries have taken action to protect their citizens against US spying and surveillance, in the aftermath of revelations made by Edward Snowden last summer.

On Friday, the US criticized plans by European nations (led by Germany and France) to work together to build a European network that will keep data secure from US spying.  The US calls those plans a "restraint of trade" which, of course, is NOT its intent. Only last month, Brazil passed a "net neutrality" bill after Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA had mass collected the personal communications of Brazilians, including President Dilma Rousseff.  [ source ]

A US government trade group started putting pressure on Canada's federal government and some provincial governments to back off from plans to strengthen their internet privacy laws and to prohibit Canadians’ personal data from being stored on US servers.  Canada has been moving towards building its own internet infrastructure to avoid spying by the US.  [ source ]

And last week, responding to public outrage over secret NSA spying on German citizens including President Angela Merkel, the German Parliament (Bundestag) convened hearings into NSA spying activities; an attempt to bring the truth to light.  Some members of the parliamentary investigative committee have suggested that Germany provide asylum for Edward Snowden, so that he can come to Germany and give direct testimony before the Bundestag.  [ source ]

These countries aren't cutting diplomatic or economic ties with the United States.  They are withdrawing their trust of Americans.  That trust relationship has been broken.  Americans are no longer respected or trusted on matters of privacy and human rights.

And friend, that's huge. And it's long-term.