The Echelon spy network

Euro MPs today published a report into the shadowy Anglo-American intelligence operation known as Echelon. The US government denies Echelon exists. Jane Perrone explains what it is.,/i>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theissues/article/0,6512,498147,00.html

Tuesday May 29, 2001

What is Echelon?

A global network of electronic spy stations that can eavesdrop on telephones, faxes and computers. It can even track bank accounts. This information is stored in Echelon computers, which can keep millions of records on individuals.

Officially, however, Echelon doesn't exist. Although evidence of Echelon has been growing since the mid-1990s, America flatly denies that it exists, while the UK government's responses to questions about the system are evasive.

What's its history?

The US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand created Echelon as part of an Anglo-Saxon club, set up by secret treaty in 1947. The five countries divided up the world to share the product of global eavesdropping.

During the cold war, Echelon's attentions were focused on military and diplomatic communications. But increasingly sophisticated computers mean Echelon can monitor industrial targets and private individuals.

How does it work?

The Echelon operation is based at Fort Meade in Maryland, America, and at GCHQ in Cheltenham. Agencies from the five countries exchange intercepted transmissions, using supercomputers to flag up any messages containing key words listed in the so-called Echelon 'dictionaries'. These transmissions are recorded and transcribed for future analysis.

Why has it hit the headlines now?

The European parliament issued a report on Echelon today, following a year-long inquiry into allegations that the spy system is being used to gather Europe's sensitive industrial secrets and pass them to British or American rivals.

What did they find?

The report concluded that the worldwide spy network does exist, but provides no firm evidence that the Echelon system has been used for commercial espionage. Although it has no legal clout, the MEPs' findings raise questions about how discriminating a global electronic spy system can be. The European commission will now investigate whether Britain's use of the system is illegal.

So what's the problem with Echelon?

It isn't only industry that's at risk. The report says that in the process of industrial spying, Echelon is eavesdropping on millions of daily communications between ordinary people.

The worry is that Echelon could become a cyber secret police, eroding individuals' right to privacy. The MEPs have warned the government that Britain could be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights because of its participation in Echelon.

As National Security Agency expert James Bamford explains in his book Body of Secrets: "The real issue is whether Echelon is doing away with individual privacy, a basic human right."

How can I protect myself?

With difficulty. If it is any comfort, the European parliament report said "only a very small portion" of global telephone, email and fax communications were being tapped into, mostly those done via satellite.

It would also help to encrypt your emails - in other words, translate them into a secret code. The person receiving your encrypted message must have access to a key or password allowing them to decode and read it.

Or make sure you do not use phones, faxes or emails communicating information you would rather others did not know. As Neil MacCormick, the Scottish Nationalist vice-chairman of the Echelon parliamentary committee, put it: "People should treat their emails like seaside postcards; that is to say put anything you like on them but don't be surprised if someone else reads them."

How can I find out more about Echelon?

Try visiting some of the links listed below.

Related articles 26.05.2001: Leaked spy report names UK 26.05.2001: Worldwide spying network is revealed 25.04.2001: Britain is untrustworthy, say MEPs in spy enquiry

Body of Secrets by James Bamford

Echelon watch - Cyber-Rights and Cyber-Liberties (UK)

Committee on the Echeleon interception system - European parliament

Echelon: America's Secret Global Surveillance Network, by Patrick S Poole

GCHQ

National Security Agency

Echelon - Federation of American Scientists

-- Guardian UK (spy@network.com), May 30, 2001

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-- Cherri (jessam5@home.com), May 31, 2001.

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,15295,00.html

-- (Wired@1998.article), May 31, 2001.

http://www.ftmarketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid={C4458285-7A87-4A2F- 8DB2-066D952536BE}

EU calls for action against e-spying

US-led Echel0n snooping network officially recognised By Madeleine Acey, FTMarketWatch 4:41:00 PM BST May 30, 2001 LONDON (FTMW) - The geeks have been talking about the global Echel0n electronic spying network for years but were dismissed as conspiracy theorists.

However a draft report by the European Parliament has determined that Echel0n DOES exist and warns European businesses and individuals to protect their communications against it. . . .

-- (Fin@ncial.Times), May 31, 2001.