I don't live far from Menwith Hill. Interesting Read.
Any unusual signage or anything around there? I used to live within driving distance to a State penitentiary in the US. It was out in the middle of nowhere (at the time), surrounded by farmland. On all 4 roads that marked the border around it were numerous signs, "Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers!"
Echelon (signals intelligence)
11–20 of 21 posts
Re: Echelon (signals intelligence)
#12I've heard, but have no way to prove, that Echelon allows domestic spying by arranging for member countries to collect data flows of the other member countries. Presumably this is then shared by some agreement that falls outside what is left of the domestic wiretapping restrictions. Could be nonsense, but after learning that MKUltra was real, who knows anymore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKULTRA
The idea that they have the power to spy and don't use it, when they could and without consequences is a little hard to fathom. Besides, there is very little legally nowadays that is really off-limits in that area. And whatever may not be (like the AT&T spying scandal was), can quickly be covered by new laws (with bi-partisan support).
The CIA/NSA etc spying on the US and UK's enemies?
Or US companies spying on UK companies to gain a competitive advantage?
If you were a BP boss would you be confident that they weren't handing your emails over to the Whitehouse during the gulf spill?
Re: Echelon (signals intelligence)
#13Echelon is largely old news. The best modern, public look at the current series (yes, series, and disparate at that) of systems is James Bamford's latest book, "Shadow Factory". It is full of fairly technical details, names, and places. http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Factory-NSA-Eavesdropping-Ameri...
Disclaimer: I'm currently working my way through the TV series "24" :-)
Re: Echelon (signals intelligence)
#14We hear about this quite often in the New Zealand media. People are often protesting outside the big "bubble" things and on the odd occasion (I think twice) people have jumped the fences and gotten past security to "pop" the "bubbles", causing "millions" in damages, a couple of guys are on trial atm for this, or very recently were
Re: Echelon (signals intelligence)
#15We hear about this quite often in the New Zealand media. People are often protesting outside the big "bubble" things and on the odd occasion (I think twice) people have jumped the fences and gotten past security to "pop" the "bubbles", causing "millions" in damages, a couple of guys are on trial atm for this, or very recently were
Please elaborate on what this "bubble" is that you speak of... Do you mean "listening facility" or something like that, or does "bubble" mean something more specific in your context?
http://www.thelivingmoon.com/45jack_files/04images/Bases/Wai...
Re: Echelon (signals intelligence)
#16We hear about this quite often in the New Zealand media. People are often protesting outside the big "bubble" things and on the odd occasion (I think twice) people have jumped the fences and gotten past security to "pop" the "bubbles", causing "millions" in damages, a couple of guys are on trial atm for this, or very recently were
Please elaborate on what this "bubble" is that you speak of... Do you mean "listening facility" or something like that, or does "bubble" mean something more specific in your context?
Re: Echelon (signals intelligence)
#17We hear about this quite often in the New Zealand media. People are often protesting outside the big "bubble" things and on the odd occasion (I think twice) people have jumped the fences and gotten past security to "pop" the "bubbles", causing "millions" in damages, a couple of guys are on trial atm for this, or very recently were
Please elaborate on what this "bubble" is that you speak of... Do you mean "listening facility" or something like that, or does "bubble" mean something more specific in your context?
Re: Echelon (signals intelligence)
#18I've heard, but have no way to prove, that Echelon allows domestic spying by arranging for member countries to collect data flows of the other member countries. Presumably this is then shared by some agreement that falls outside what is left of the domestic wiretapping restrictions. Could be nonsense, but after learning that MKUltra was real, who knows anymore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKULTRA
That is, it was explained to me that while we don't 'spy' on our citizens we supply as part of the partnership the ability for each member country to basically circumvent those restrictions because the entity doing the surveillance is actually a foreign government (all be it an ally). Not exactly in those terms but I was left in no doubt that that was how it worked.
Of course if they told me that a job interview I imagine it was regarded as public knowledge.
Re: Echelon (signals intelligence)
#19Echelon is largely old news. The best modern, public look at the current series (yes, series, and disparate at that) of systems is James Bamford's latest book, "Shadow Factory". It is full of fairly technical details, names, and places. http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Factory-NSA-Eavesdropping-Ameri...
If I were paranoid and/or involved in intelligence work I might wonder whether these ancient facilities were retained to divert attention from newer intelligence-gathering facilities. Disclaimer: I'm currently working my way through the TV series "24" :-)
IIRC, one such place out in the woods, back east was decommissioned and purchased for use by amateur astronomers some years back.
They probably had a field day opening the door for the first time. The equipment was all stripped out prior, but I'm sure they got a kick out of the expensive wiring & elaborate shielding everywhere.
Re: Echelon (signals intelligence)
#20I've heard, but have no way to prove, that Echelon allows domestic spying by arranging for member countries to collect data flows of the other member countries. Presumably this is then shared by some agreement that falls outside what is left of the domestic wiretapping restrictions. Could be nonsense, but after learning that MKUltra was real, who knows anymore. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKULTRA
I can pretty much confirm this is the case. I was told as much way back in 1996 at a job interview for the local part of (the what was then unnamed but now has probably changed its name again) Echelon network. (Run out of the GCSB in NZ). That is, it was explained to me that while we don't 'spy' on our citizens we supply as part of the partnership the ability for each member country to basically circumvent those rest…