Resource Center

Echelon

Number 17568
Subject Surveillance
Source CBS News 60 Minutes
State NY
Year 2000
Publication Date Feb. 27
Summary A CBS News 60 Minutes investigation discovers that a top-secret, "little-known system called Echelon is able to intercept virtually any electronic transmission worldwide." The story reports on the European Union concerns over corporate espionage by the NSA. It finds that "the Echelon program is far more vast than the EU had presented, and that the globe is peppered with huge spy stations..." The report reveals that, while the American National Security Agency "is forbidden by American law to spy on American citizens, .... Canada and England do the spying on behalf of the NSA and simply send the information to their American colleagues." The investigation finds that these two countries "use the same loophole to get around their own domestic surveillance rules," and uncovers reports that Echelon has listened in on late Princess Diana, Amnesty International and Greenpeace.
Category Contest Entry
Pages 11
Keywords TAPE;TRANSCRIPT;FOIA;intelligence;national security;Federation of American Scientists;Menwith Hill;House Intelligence Committee;Congress;traffic;parliament;encryption;law enforcement
Related Links
Related Video
Contest Questionnaires Only members can download contest entry questionnaires! Log in to get access.
Ordering info Want to place an order? Email us or call us at 573-882-3364 (Stories are only available to members of IRE. For membership information, please refer to our membership page)