U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about the National Security Agency from the Justice Department in Washington January 17, 2014. Obama announced a ban on U.S. eavesdropping on the leaders of close friends and allies on Friday, and rein in the vast collection of Americans’ phone data in a series of reforms triggered by Edward Snowden’s revelations. In a major speech, Obama took steps to reassure Americans and foreigners alike that the United States will take into account privacy concerns that arose after former U.S. spy contractor Snowden’s damaging disclosures about the large monitoring activities of the National Security Agency (NSA).

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES – Tags: POLITICS)