ECHELON: European Parliament report accuses NSA of spying]

[Rigo Wenning <wenning2@rz.uni-sb.de>]

FYI

Rigo


Richard Hornbeck wrote:
> 
> Although awareness of the existence of Echelon (NSA interception of all
> electronic communications throughout Europe since WWII) is increasing in the
> States, its significance may not yet be widely understood in Europe. If
> anyone wants cites, or URLs explaining this "amazing feat of technology" and
> the vast privacy implications it triggers, please send your request either
> directly to myself, or to this list (whichever fits this list's e-mail
> etiquette).
> 
> Richard Hornbeck
> Electronic Frontiers - Texas
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-politech@vorlon.mit.edu
> [mailto:owner-politech@vorlon.mit.edu] On Behalf Of Declan McCullagh
> Sent: Monday, September 28, 1998 7:23 AM
> To: politech@vorlon.mit.edu
> Subject: FC: European Parliament report accuses NSA of spying
> 
> [Imagine that -- a spy agency actually *spying*!]
> 
>                                The Baltimore Sun
> 
>                   September 19, 1998, Saturday
> 
>   Pg. 9A
> 
>  NSA listening practices called European 'threat'; European Parliament
> report accuses agency of widespread spying
> 
>  Neal Thompson, SUN STAFF
> 
>    The National Security Agency has incurred the wrath of some U.S. allies
> and triggered debate about increased global eavesdropping, thanks to a new
> report that accuses the agency of spying on European citizens and
> companies.
> 
>    With the help of a listening post in the moors of northern England, NSA
> for nearly a decade has been snatching Europe's electronic communications
> signals, according to a report for the European Parliament.
> 
>    "Within Europe, all e-mail, telephone and fax communications are
> routinely intercepted by the United States National Security Agency,
> transferring all target information to Fort Meade," said the report.
> 
>    'Powerful threat'
> 
>    It warned that the NSA's tactics represent a "powerful threat to civil
> liberties in Europe" at a time when more communication -- and commerce --
> is conducted electronically.
> 
>    A preliminary version of the report circulated overseas in recent
> months, touching off heated debate, with front-page stories in Italy,
> France, Scotland, England, Belgium and even Russia.
> 
>    The NSA won't discuss the report or even admit that the listening post
> exists.
> 
>    But this week, two days of debate in the European Parliament continued
> the extraordinary public disclosure of comprehensive post-Cold War spying
> by the agency. On Wednesday, the Parliament passed a resolution seeking
> more accountability from such eavesdropping arrangements and more
> assurances that they won't be misused.
> 
>    "We want to make sure that somebody's watching them," said Glyn Ford, a
> British member of the European Parliament, the legislative body for the
> 15-member European Union.
> 
>    Observers say this was the first time a governmental body has described
> in detail -- and then criticized -- the NSA's tactics.
> 
> [...]
> 
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-- 
Rigo Wenning - FITUG http://www.fitug.de/