FITUG e.V.
Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft
FITUG e.V.Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft |
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------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 23:46:28 +0200 (EET) From: Jei <jei@cc.hut.fi> To: ukcrypto@chiark.greenend.org.uk, cypherpunks@EINSTEIN.ssz.com Copies to: Crypto List <cryptography@wasabisystems.com>, eurorights@eurorights.org, Law & Policy of Computer Communications <CYBERIA-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM> Subject: EU vice-president to claim US site spies on European business
To: Electronic Warfare <ewar@topica.com>, Subject: IUFO NEWS: FWD [forteana] Echelon in Yorkshire
< http://yorkshirepost.co.uk/scripts/editorial2.cgi?cid=4&aid=434459 >
EU vice-president to claim US site spies on European business
VICE-PRESIDENT of the European Parliament, Gerhardt Schmid, is expected to argue that the Echelon system used at the United States base at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, is used for industrial espionage when he speaks in the town next week.
Dr Schmid compiled the European Parliament's report on Echelon, which is believed to intercept millions of telephone calls, faxes, e-mails and other electronic communications and pass confidential information to the US National Security Agency.
The German Socialist Euro MP has accepted an invitation from the Menwith Hill Forum which monitors activities at the 560-acre intelligence site to speak at the Friends Meeting House in Queen Parade, Harrogate, on Thursday at 7.30pm.
The signals intelligence station already has a key role in Echelon, but its importance will grow when hundreds of staff are transferred to Menwith Hill from Bad Abling the National Security Agency's third largest monitoring station, which is in the Bavarian Alps.
Although the US Government has denied the existence of Echelon, it is known to be shared with Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Britain. UK Government sources justify it as a means of gathering information on terrorist organisations and international drug cartels.
But Dr Schmid is expected to argue that Echelon is also used by the United States Government to gather sensitive economic data from European countries, which is allegedly being passed on to benefit industrial rivals across the Atlantic. One example is said to be a £1bn contract lost by Airbus Industrie to Boeing and McDonnel Douglas.
Dr Schmid, who will tell the Forum that the uncontrolled use of Echelon is potentially detrimental to European economies and puts at risk thousands of jobs, will also explain what the European Parliament is doing to try to protect citizens' rights.
The Forum's chairman, John Eveleigh said: "This public meeting continues our aim to inform local people of the activities and genuine concerns we have around the Menwith Hill surveillance station. I urge anyone interested in finding out more about Echelon to attend."
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