[futurehuman]

It gets worse. Here's a case showing that this global dragnet has absolutely nothing to do with terrorism, but corporate espionage:

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3904457.htm

"ASIO has cancelled the passport of a retired spy who's preparing to give evidence in The Hague about what he says was his involvement in a covert operation to record Timorese ministers and officials in Dili in 2004."

"For some time now the Timorese government has been alleging that the bugging operation was ordered by then foreign minister Alexander Downer during negotiations over a treaty governing billions of dollars in gas revenue between the two countries."

"It's understood the spy decided to blow the whistle when he learned that in his life after politics, Alexander Downer had become an advisor to Woodside Petroleum through his lobbying firm, Bespoke Approach."

tl;dr: Foriegn Minister of Australia spied on foreign government for Woodside Petroleum. Said minister now works for Woodside Petroleum.

[ttctciyf]

A piece[1] at emptywheel.net notes that the mention of sigint used in agricultural trade negotiations around 2004 and suggestively points to a diplomatic cable[2] discussing strategy for changing the French stance on GM imports from the US at that time.

If you're interested in this aspect you might like to take a look.

[1] http://www.emptywheel.net/2014/02/15/since-spying-to-benefit...

[2] http://wikileaks.org/cable/2007/12/07PARIS4723.html