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FC: The Economist on Echelon spy system: Tapping is rout

------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 09:48:58 -0700 To: politech@vorlon.mit.edu From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com> Subject: FC: The Economist on Echelon spy system: Tapping is routine Send reply to: declan@well.com

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http://www.economist.com/editorial/freeforall/current/index_br9568.html

The Economist Online edition Apr 29th - May 5th 2000

Those perfidious Anglo spies

Allegations that Britain helps America and others spy on its European allies have annoyed some across the Channel

This is an Anglo-Saxon Protestant conspiracy. So much for Britain's commitment to European solidarity; its real union is with America. So complained Jean-Claude Martinez, a French member of the European Parliament after a debate on eavesdropping by Britain and other English-speaking countries. Is electronic snooping in danger of driving a further wedge between Britain and its European allies?

The spy system Mr Martinez decried, dubbed Echelon, has long been a target of conspiracy theorists and campaigners for civil liberties. They claim that western spies routinely gather and share private information by monitoring electronic communication and satellites. In particular, the Anglo-Saxons (American, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as Britain) are said to listen to Europeans by using equipment set up during the cold war.

A recent report for the European Parliament by a British journalist, Duncan Campbell, detailed how easily communications can be monitored. He described various sites in Britain (some used by American security services) where information is gathered and processed. This report, along with earlier ones and allegations in the French press, spurred demands from more than 170 MEPs for a further inquiry: it is a very dangerous attack on the sovereignty of member states, complained one speaker. The MEPs will get a temporary committee of inquiry and Portugal, the current president of the European Union, plans a discussion of industrial espionage for an informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers next month.

There are two broad accusations against Britain and its English-speaking allies: that they illicitly monitor communications among European governments and businesses, and share that information between themselves; and that such monitoring is done for commercial gain.

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