US, Europe May Share Intelligence, But Not Privacy Rules

The United States and Europe stepped up cooperation on security issues after Sept. 11, 2001. But that doesn't mean they agree on everything.

The latest point of friction: What are the rules when it comes to privacy rights The revelations about the National Security Agency's surveillance programs not only touched off a ferocious debate in the U.S. but also struck a nerve in Europe. The Europeans appear to be reacting mostly to the reports that the NSA tapped the servers of Google, Facebook and other Internet companies for personal data. The companies have hundreds of millions of users worldwide, including in Europe. And just as there has been mixed reaction in the U.S., the same is true in Europe.