is the nsa now admitting to echelon?
seeing lots of reporting today (nothing new, just what we've already heard) in The Independent, UPI and NY Times...)
The French are starting their legal investigation into Echelon (because they think the U.S. used their snooping devices to help an american company (boeing I think, but not positive) to outbid Airbus for a Saudi contract.) This is causing the whole thing to get another round of press. But as far as I can tell, everybody has already admitted to everything. The only thing the NSA denies is that it spies on domestic communication (although they won't say that their partner countries - U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, at least - don't trade that information to them.) I've stopped commenting on this story because it just seems like one of those mental block things. Nobody is denying this is going on, but nobody important seems to care. Strange how something can be completely hidden while being right out in the open. The ACLU has been posting the facts for quite some time at echelonwatch.org. FWIW, from my perspective, it seems like the geek community has turned its attention away from government backed conspiracy and toward the dangers to privacy and liberty by global big business.
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seeing lots of reporting today (nothing new, just what we've already heard) in The Independent, UPI and NY Times...)
- anonymous 7-07-2000 4:43 pm [edit]
The French are starting their legal investigation into Echelon (because they think the U.S. used their snooping devices to help an american company (boeing I think, but not positive) to outbid Airbus for a Saudi contract.) This is causing the whole thing to get another round of press. But as far as I can tell, everybody has already admitted to everything. The only thing the NSA denies is that it spies on domestic communication (although they won't say that their partner countries - U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, at least - don't trade that information to them.) I've stopped commenting on this story because it just seems like one of those mental block things. Nobody is denying this is going on, but nobody important seems to care. Strange how something can be completely hidden while being right out in the open. The ACLU has been posting the facts for quite some time at echelonwatch.org. FWIW, from my perspective, it seems like the geek community has turned its attention away from government backed conspiracy and toward the dangers to privacy and liberty by global big business.
- jim 7-07-2000 5:18 pm [add a comment]
Here's a little update on New Zealand's participation in Echelon. I'd be surprised if they could withdraw, but obviously I don't really know anything.
- jim 7-09-2000 7:25 pm [add a comment]