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Home > ECHELON surveillance system -- security or invasion of privacy?
August 26, 2005
By: Bob Whitehead
In the late 1990s, conspiracy theorists and news sources
alike expressed concern over the ECHELON surveillance
system. ECHELON hearkened comparisons to 1984 and Big Brother
not just in the United States, but globally. A coalition of
nations known as the UKUSA, which is comprised of the United
States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New
Zealand, use the system.
Concerns about ECHELON have not gone away, however. In a
society where we’ve had to question whether giving up a bit
of liberty in exchange for security is a worthy exchange
over the past three years, this kind of global surveillance
still needs attention. Intelligence specialists this year
have suggested members of UKUSA seize millions of
transmissions every hour.
ECHELON is a satellite-based system that can monitor
almost any kind of electronic signal. It intercepts the
signal, then an enormous computer network implements
software that uses keyword recognition and voice recognition
to pick out words of note. Phone calls made on land lines,
faxes, and emails are all susceptible to ECHELON’s
surveillance power. Countries then exchange the information
obtained.
Surveillance is part of daily life, especially the United
States’ post-September 11th social climate. In general, we
accept that entering a place of business means being taped.
But there is a difference between surveillance and
espionage, and many people feel ECHELON crosses that line.
ECHELON is an expansive and powerful surveillance system,
but to some, it’s also a part of global security. Whether it
inspires feelings of safety or feelings of paranoia, it’s
important to at least be aware of its use.
About the Author
Bob Whitehead is a successful freelance writer and
contributor to Video-Surveillance-Guide.com. Your
definitive guide to video surveillance equipment, CCTV
cameras and wireless security systems for home and business.
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