Echelon actually exists?!?

Archangel (aka SoupDragon) · Tue 06/04/2004 18:08:15

Today in Britain a terrorist plot was uncovered to release a chemical weapon in London. The chemical itself isn't horrendous, but what got me was the method in which the terrorists were found out- "American and English listening stations", to quote. Does this mean they really ARE intercepting all our emails? I thought that was just a conspiracy theory. What a strange time we live in.

c.leksutin · Tue 06/04/2004 19:16:39

more likely it was cell phone conversations, in the US the NSA monitors alot of the cccellphone and radio trafic that enters and leaves the country.

C.

shbaz · Tue 06/04/2004 19:47:41

No, the NSA intercepts e-mails too. There is a large computer that searches for keywords and phrases like, "Bomb, terrorist, and Bush is stupid."

Archangel (aka SoupDragon) · Tue 06/04/2004 20:48:47

Quote from: c.leksutin on Tue 06/04/2004 19:16:39
more likely it was cell phone conversations, in the US the NSA monitors alot of the cccellphone and radio trafic that enters and leaves the country.

C.

Yeah, you see I had no idea they could do that. Well ok, so I had an idea, but I didn't think it could be that sophisticated.

Las Naranjas · Tue 06/04/2004 22:04:13

Echelon sorta occupies the same categoray as Israel's nuclear arsenal. It hasn't been confirmed officially, but there's a general consensus that it's there, so the authorities don't bother to stir the issue by denying it.

Nacho · Tue 06/04/2004 22:11:43

Quote from: shbazjinkens on Tue 06/04/2004 19:47:41
No, the NSA intercepts e-mails too. There is a large computer that searches for keywords and phrases like, "Bomb, terrorist, and Bush is stupid."

That's disturbing, because if that is true and you all know it, terrorists must know it also, and just changing the word "bomb" by "tomato", a lot of e-mails planning to set bombs wouldn't be intercepted by the authorities...

The disturbing of that is that I don't think that CIA can be so stupid for not intercepting mails just by changing the word "bomb" by "tomato", so, if we assume that they intercept some e-mails, the next and logical thing is that they intercept all the mails...

And I don't want they to intercept the sprites I send to Darth Mandarb about our next project!

They would use them!

shbaz · Wed 07/04/2004 02:35:48

Quote from: Farlander on Tue 06/04/2004 22:11:43
That's disturbing, because if that is true and you all know it, terrorists must know it also, and just changing the word "bomb" by "tomato", a lot of e-mails planning to set bombs wouldn't be intercepted by the authorities...

The terrorists don't figure everything out you know. It's easy to be confused into thinking so because the media throws the word "mastermind" around so loosely. Here's your basic terrorist, "If I strap this bomb to my chest and harm at least one innocent citizen of an 'evil' country, I'll go to heaven and be revered for hundreds of years to come." They're not that smart.

The NSA sucks, I don't like my life being monitored. When you think about it though, every time you post on a forum even an average person can find what you said on Google, so monitoring your actions is easier every day.

LordHart · Wed 07/04/2004 02:49:33

Quote from: Farlander on Tue 06/04/2004 22:11:43so, if we assume that they intercept some e-mails, the next and logical thing is that they intercept all the mails...

Um, I hope not... otherwise my plan for total domination will come unravelled...

*The door breaks down and men start rushing in waving MP5's*

Argghhhh.sdkl;fga'gsdasdgjk;sd jfj

Las Naranjas · Wed 07/04/2004 06:40:35

Nah, the guys with the MP5's are the guys going after the guys with the MP3's.

MrColossal · Wed 07/04/2004 07:29:26

Oh good lord las... I expect that from Mills or something but not you... also:

Too soon man... Too soon

Las Naranjas · Wed 07/04/2004 07:31:24

eric, toetally

Redwall · Wed 07/04/2004 21:09:15

Echelon? I've never heard SigInt/ELINT referred to that way before...

Archangel (aka SoupDragon) · Wed 07/04/2004 21:40:20

That's because it's not just sigint, which would refer mainly to monitoring of the enemy's communications on a battlefield or warzone, it's the sifting through of civilian communications on home soil, maybe even ALL civilian communications, in the hope of uncovering illicit activity.

Echelon · Wed 07/04/2004 22:33:16

We exist? Heresay and conjecture.

Redwall · Thu 08/04/2004 03:11:56

Quote from: Archangel (aka SoupDragon) on Wed 07/04/2004 21:40:20
That's because it's not just sigint, which would refer mainly to monitoring of the enemy's communications on a battlefield or warzone, it's the sifting through of civilian communications on home soil, maybe even ALL civilian communications, in the hope of uncovering illicit activity.

Really? I always thought SigInt and ELINT referred to civillian stuff as well... ah well.