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[FYI] (Fwd) [Echelon: new documents on economic espionage and human




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Date sent:      	Mon, 28 May 2001 09:56:12 -0400
From:           	t byfield <tbyfield@panix.com>
To:             	cryptography@wasabisystems.com
Subject:        	[Echelon: new documents on economic espionage and human rights]

cheers,
t

----- Forwarded 

From: "Armin Medosch" <armin@easynet.co.uk>
To: nettime-l@bbs.thing.net
Date: Mon, 28 May 2001 12:32:06 +0200
Subject: <nettime> Echelon: new documents on economic espionage and
human rights

In a major report to be published this week, the Echelon committee of
the European Parliament has found that the conduct of electronic
surveillance activities by US intelligence breaches the European
Convention of Human Rights even when conducted, allegedly, for law
enforcement purposes. It concludes that if the British and German
governments fail to prevent the improper use of  surveillance stations
sited on their territory to intercept private and commercial
communications, they may be in breach both of community law and of
human rights treaties.

In collaboration with the British journalist Duncan Campbell, the
online magazine Telepolis today launches a package of Echelon- related
material on the WWW.  

Four new studies on "Interception Capabilities - Impact and 
Exploitation" were commissioned by the Temporary Committee on 
the Echelon Interception System of the European Parliament in 
December 2000. They cover the use of communications 
intelligence (COMINT) for economic purposes, legal and human 
rights issues, and recent political and technological developments.
Among the key topics covered are the documentary and factual evidence
for the existence of the COMSAT (communications satellite) intercept
system known as "ECHELON". 

These studies were presented to the Echelon Committee at its 
Brussels meeting on 22 and 23 January 2001.  The fourth study, on new
political and technical developments, was presented only in the form
of a slideshow.   These studies are published with permission from the
secretariat of the Echelon Committee. 

Introduction and summary in an article by Duncan Campbell:

Germany, UK breaching human rights with NSA spy link-up 
Echelon system identified as "legislation-free zone"
Duncan Campbell
http://www.heise.de/tp/english/special/ech/7753/1.html

IC2001, paper 1: ECHELON and its role in COMINT
http://www.heise.de/tp/deutsch/special/ech/7747/1.html

This paper summarises the evidence for the existence of 
ECHELON as a global interception system.  It records official 
admissions about the secret UKUSA agreement that links English-
speaking signals intelligence organisations. The paper also 
provides detailed answers to questions put by the Committee. It 
points out that very few media reports have provided original new
information about Echelon, and that many press reports have enlarged
on the nature of the interception systems and their capabilities,
without evidence. 

IC2001, paper 2: COMINT impact on international trade
http://www.heise.de/tp/deutsch/special/ech/7752/1.html

Paper 2 sets out, with detailed sources, the case that from 1992 to
date Europe is likely to have sustained significant employment and
financial loss as a result of the U.S. government policy of "levelling
the playing field", introduced in 1991.   It also refers to:

Annexe 2-1
Background papers about the U.S. Trade Promotion Co-ordinating 
Committee (TPCC) and the Advocacy Center, including statements 
of purpose 
http://www.heise.de/tp/deutsch/special/ech/7743/1.html

Annexe 2-2
A questionaire for U.S. companies to answer in order to determine
whether or not they are deemed "American" and thus qualify for
official assistance.
http://www.heise.de/tp/deutsch/special/ech/7744/1.html

The questionnaire is also on the internet
http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/advocacy/question.htm

Annexe 2-3
Documents revealing the CIA's role in U.S. trade promotion,  
obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. 
http://www.heise.de/tp/deutsch/special/ech/7749/1.html

IC2001, paper 3: COMINT, privacy and human rights
http://www.heise.de/tp/deutsch/special/ech/7748/1.html

This paper reveals that Britain undertakes to protect the rights of
Americans, Canadians and Australians against interception that would
not comply with their own domestic law, while offering no protection
of any kind to other Europeans.    This and other background papers
provided to the Echelon committee have prompted them to observe that
"possible threats to privacy and to businesses posed by a system of
the ECHELON type arise not only from the fact that is a particularly
powerful monitoring system, but also that it operates in a largely
legislation-free area."

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