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Sir Iain Lobban, head of GCHQ, gives evidence to the to the Commons' intelligence and security committee . Photo: AP

Outgoing GCHQ boss rejects mass surveillance claims

The outgoing head of Britain's eavesdropping agency GCHQ has issued a stout defence of the work of his spies who have faced criticism following revelations by Edward Snowden, saying they would rather quit than carry out mass surveillance.

The outgoing head of Britain's eavesdropping agency GCHQ has issued a stout defence of the work of his spies who have faced criticism following revelations by Edward Snowden, saying they would rather quit than carry out mass surveillance.

Privacy groups and some lawmakers accused GCHQ of the widespread illegal monitoring of electronic communications after Snowden, a former US intelligence contractor, leaked documents in June last year disclosing details of its activities and those of its US counterpart the National Security Agency (NSA).

In his final speech before stepping down as head of GCHQ, Iain Lobban said only a "miniscule" percentage of global emails, texts and images were stored, viewed or listened to.

"The people who work at GCHQ would sooner walk out the door than be involved in anything remotely resembling 'mass surveillance'," Lobban said.

Snowden's leaks, published in newspapers internationally, indicated that GCHQ and the NSA had intercepted and monitored phone, email and social media communications on a massive scale.

Snowden fled the United States, where he faces charges, and has since been granted temporary asylum in Russia.

Intelligence chiefs say the leaks have damaged operations, put lives at risk and allowed terrorists to change their methods of communication.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Outgoing UK spy chief defends agency
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