The German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) intercepted calls by then-US President Barack Obama, according to journalist Holger Stark, by eavesdropping on Air Force One communications. The operation exploited encryption weaknesses and ran for several years until the Chancellery halted it in 2014. The BND has not commented on the allegations.
Journalist Holger Stark revealed in a podcast by «Bild» deputy editor Paul Ronzheimer that the BND eavesdropped on Barack Obama. The intelligence service exploited the more challenging encryption of conversations from the US presidential aircraft. «That's why the Americans occasionally conducted talks that were either poorly encrypted, had gaps, or were not encrypted at all,» Stark said. The BND knew about a dozen frequencies used by Air Force One for phone calls and intercepted them.
There was no official espionage order. Transcripts of Obama's calls were properly documented and circulated in a single copy within the BND, which was to be shredded afterward. «The Chancellery was unaware of this for a long time.» The interceptions were not regular but opportunistic: Staff recorded when activity was detected on the frequencies. «It was authorized by the BND president, who could have stopped it,» Stark explained. Conversations of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and American military personnel were also intercepted. «It was simply too tempting for the BND to listen in and get a glimpse into the mindset of the American leadership.»
The incident is notable in context: In 2013, it emerged that the US NSA had tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone. «Spying among friends is not on,» Merkel reacted angrily. Obama appeared embarrassed, and both worked to improve relations. The Chancellery halted surveillance of the US presidential plane in 2014, after several years. It is unclear when it began—possibly under George W. Bush. Insights fed into general assessments of US positions sent to the Chancellery, without specifying sources.
Stark published the details in his book «The Adult Nation. Germany Without America - A Historical Opportunity.» The existence of a folder with transcripts was first mentioned in the BND inquiry committee in 2014/2015. The Chancellery ordered a halt and deletion, but the BND kept the Obama operation secret. The BND declined comment: «The Federal Intelligence Service does not take a public position on matters concerning potential intelligence findings or activities.»
