Edward Snowden: "Nosey Smurf was hacking codename"

In his first UK TV interview US whistleblower Edward Snowden has given the BBC new details of the UK government's ability to hack users' smartphones without their knowledge.

Mr Snowden, a former analyst with the US National Security Agency (NSA) told Panorama there was "very little" the public could do to stop GCHQ - the UK's digital spy agency - getting control of their handsets.

He described a series of intercept capabilities named after Smurfs - the little blue imps of Belgian cartoon fame.

The UK government declined to comment on "intelligence matters".

Watch Peter Taylor's film: Edward Snowden, Spies and the Law on Panorama on BBC One on Monday 5 October at 2030bst or catch up later online.