This is a 2001 document from the European Parliament, who undertook a relatively independent investigation of the ECHELON surveillance system — bizarrely, many people continue to dismiss this as a mere conspiracy theory. Then again, many people are Mormons. This report is solid gold for anyone looking to understand the precise mechanics and methodology behind global interception of electronic communication. It goes into a great amount of detail and will prove invaluable to serious researchers.
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This is a 2001 document from the European Parliament, who undertook a relatively independent investigation of the ECHELON surveillance system — bizarrely, many people continue to dismiss this as a mere conspiracy theory. Then again, many people are Mormons. This report is solid gold for anyone looking to understand the precise mechanics and methodology behind global interception of electronic communication. It goes into a great amount of detail and will prove invaluable to serious researchers. Enjoy.
"The system known as ‘ECHELON’ is an interception system which differs from other intelligence systems in that it possesses two features which make it quite unusual:
The first such feature attributed to it is the capacity to carry out quasi-total surveillance. Satellite receiver stations and spy satellites in particular are alleged to give it the ability to intercept any telephone, fax, Internet or e-mail message sent by any individual and thus to inspect its contents.
The second unusual feature of ECHELON is said to be that the system operates worldwide on the basis of cooperation proportionate to their capabilities among several states (the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), giving it an added value in comparison to national systems: the states participating in ECHELON (ECHELON states) can place their interception systems at each other’s disposal, share the cost and make joint use of the resulting information. This type of international cooperation is essential in particular for the worldwide interception of satellite communications, since only in this way is it possible to ensure in international communications that both sides of a dialogue can be intercepted. It is clear that, in view of its size, a satellite receiver station cannot be established on the territory of a state without that state’s knowledge. Mutual agreement and proportionate cooperation among several states in different parts of the world is essential.
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. Systems for the interception of international communications are not usually targeted at residents of the home country. The person whose messages were intercepted would have no domestic legal protection, not being resident in the country concerned. Such a person would be completely at the mercy of the system."
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http://www.skilluminati.com/docs/ECHELON_report_euro_parl.pdf
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Original: Report on ECHELON Surveillance System