Intelligence agency on defensive over NSA leaks

Danish and Norwegian intelligence agencies confirm that they share data from intercepted phone calls with the NSA, but claim that the data was collected in conflict zones

The head of the external intelligence agency, Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste (FE), is on the defensive ahead of expected revelations about Denmark’s role in spying by the US intelligence agency, NSA.

On Tuesday, Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet revealed that the NSA held so-called metadata about mobile phone calls that it received from Norway.

A document published by Dagbladet shows a bar graph labelled ‘Norway’ that allegedly shows the volume of intercepted phone calls on a given day.

READ MORE: Denmark is one of the NSA's '9-eyes'

33 million phone calls intercepted
Norwegian intelligence agency yesterday confirmed that, over the space of one month, the agency gathered and shared data on 33 million phone calls with the NSA.

The Norwegians argued, however, that the data was not gathered by the NSA but instead was gathered by the Norwegians abroad in conflict zones abroad and shared with the NSA.

In an interview with Politiken newspaper, FE head Thomas Ahrienkel said that a similar story about Denmark is likely to hit the news.

Not domestic calls
“That is why I want to state that this is not about the mass surveillance of Danish mobile phone traffic by the US,” Ahrienkel told Politiken. “Instead, it’s about the collection of telecommunications that was conducted by FE abroad and then subsequently shared.”

The information stems from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and was shared with the media by journalist Glenn Greenwald.

READ MORE: New NSA leak: High level of Danish and US intelligence sharing

Speaking to Politiken, Greenwald argues that the explanation from the intelligence agencies contradicts the data that show the information was gathered “against” Norway.

“I know that what [they] are saying is completely different to what the NSA documents clearly show,” Greenwald said.




  • The Lynch Interviews: Fergal O’Byrne

    The Lynch Interviews: Fergal O’Byrne

    English-Australian writer and theatre director Stuart Lynch contributes a monthly column titled “The Lynch Interviews”. In this series, he engages with prominent internationals residing in Denmark or Danish individuals with a global perspective. For April, he interviews Irish playwright and writer Fergal O’Byrne, fresh from an acclaimed season of a new English-language play in Copenhagen.

  • Why your talented internationals aren’t moving up the ladder – and what to do about it

    Why your talented internationals aren’t moving up the ladder – and what to do about it

    Many internationals find it difficult to advance in their new workplaces, and some quietly leave. It’s not because they lack talent. In Denmark, careers are shaped not only by skills but also by cultural understanding, informal networks, and social signals. However, internationals may not be familiar with this system or know how to navigate it

  • The international behind Donkey Republic: how a Turkish systems thinker reimagined urban mobility in Denmark

    The international behind Donkey Republic: how a Turkish systems thinker reimagined urban mobility in Denmark

    Erdem Ovacık, co-founder of Donkey Republic, built one of Europe’s leading bike-sharing companies from Denmark — but success as an international entrepreneur hasn’t come easy

  • Denmark hits 66.2 million overnight stays: what’s fueling the rise?

    Denmark hits 66.2 million overnight stays: what’s fueling the rise?

    In 2024, Denmark saw 1.5 million more overnight stays than in 2023, bringing the total to 66.2 million staying in hotels, holiday centers, campsites, and youth hostels. It’s clear: after COVID-19, traveling is now back on the table. But the question is: why are people choosing Denmark?

  • World Cup in Ice Hockey will face off in Herning

    World Cup in Ice Hockey will face off in Herning

    As in 2018, Denmark will co-host the Ice Hockey World Championship. And once again, Herning and Jyske Bank Boxen will be the hosts. Denmark is in Pool B and starts tonight with a match against the USA, which, given the political tensions between the two countries, may be an icy affair.

  • Diplomatic tensions between US and Denmark after spying rumors

    Diplomatic tensions between US and Denmark after spying rumors

    A Wall Street Journal article describes that the US will now begin spying in Greenland. This worries the Danish foreign minister, who wants an explanation from the US’s leading diplomat. Greenlandic politicians think that Trump’s actions increase the sense of insecurity

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.