Powerless to stop NSA
Despite the reassurances of the prime minister, Danes would be powerless to monitor, let alone stop, any surveillance efforts by the NSA, America’s electronic spying agency. Amid revelations that the NSA has been eavesdropping on the conversations of European leaders, Helle Thorning-Schmidt named two intelligence oversight agencies that would protect Danes from prying, but neither of them have the power to do so. Members of both panels say the scope of their responsibilities include making sure that domestic intelligence agencies do not overstep their authority. – Berlingske
SEE RELATED: More questions than answers on Denmark's place in NSA scandal
Snoops for hire
Computer experts interested in snooping in other people’s business had until last Friday the chance to do so as part of their job, when a privately owned American firm quietly pulled down its job announcement looking for computer specialists cleared to handle sensitive information. CACI, a company approved by German authorities to carry out intelligence operations for the US, was seeking to fill four positions to work in an undisclosed location in Denmark, as well as in other European countries. The job announcement was taken down after Jyllands-Posten contacted the firm for more information. CACI, according to experts, could have been hiring individuals to work for another firm, but they said it was more likely that the NSA was seeking local hires to help install new computer equipment. – Jyllands-Posten
SEE RELATED: Denmark is one of the NSA's '9-Eyes'
New guidelines to prevent questionable tax advising
TV exposés showing that tax advisors operate in a grey zone have moved the tax minister, Holger Nielsen, to call for the creation of a set of ethical guidelines for people offering advice to taxpayers. “We’ve just seen too many examples of questionable tax advising,” Nielsen said. Representatives for tax advisors pointed out they already had such guidelines, but said they preferred the idea of new guidleines to new legislation. Nielsen said law changes were also in the works. Among them, a plan to hold tax advisors responsible if their clients commit tax evasion based on advice they have given. – Politiken
SEE RELATED: Bank advises customer on how to dodge taxes
Editorial Excerpt | The silence of the mayors
Reporting in recent days about electoral financing paints a depressing picture of how tight-lipped candidates are about their donors. The clear majority of candidates for mayor in the largest councils declined to answer one newspaper’s questions about it who gives them money. The message was clear: we can take care of things ourselves. There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with individuals or firms supporting candidates for local office, but voters have the right to know who is giving money to the mayor. – Politiken
SEE RELATED: Calls for more transparent party financing ahead of local election
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