CRI听力:US to Continue Worldwide Surveillance Program

The United States says it will continue to gather information for security purposes despite protests by countries it has spied on.

State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki says the U.S. is reviewing its surveillance activities in the wake of the disclosure that the U.S. monitored phone conversations of 35 world leaders.

Pkaski adds the U.S. will work to find a balance between security and privacy concerns in the future.

"Going forward, we will, of course continue to gather the information we need to keep ourselves and our allies safe. We, of course, will factor in the views of our friends and partners as we have those discussions with them and we'll continue to balance our security needs with privacy concerns."

Psaki acknowledges the disclosure by whistleblower Edward Snowden has weakened relations with some key allies, chiefly, Germany, Italy and France.

The spokesperson says Washington is having discussions with those allies on the surveillance issue.

Germany is expected to send its top intelligence chiefs to Washington next week to seek answers from the White House on allegations that U.S. security officials tapped the mobile phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Merkel has demanded action from President Barack Obama, not just apologetic words, following the accusations.

The White House has denied the United States is bugging Merkel, but Washington officials have refused to say whether it did so in the past.

Meanwhile, members of the European Parliament's civil liberties committee say they will also fly to Washington for talks on Monday and explore "possible legal remedies for EU citizens".