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7.7.2000 Security: French examine U.S. surveillance
A French prosecutor has begun a preliminary investigation into whether the U.S. global surveillance system, which listens in on millions of telephone calls, faxes and e-mails each day, is a threat to French well-being.

En français: Les Francais examinent la surveillance americaine
Un juge d'instruction français a commencé une enquête préliminaire pour déterminer si le système de surveillance americain , qui surveille des millions d'appels téléphonique, les faxs et la messagerie éllectronique chaque jour, était un danger pour la France.

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The prosecutor, Jean-Pierre Dintilhac, has ordered France's counter-intelligence agency, DST, to appraise the actions of the system, Echelon. The system links computers in at least seven sites around the world to receive, analyze and sort information captured from satellite communications.

If the French agency finds the system "harmful to the vital interests of the nation," legal proceedings could begin, though it is difficult to see how a U.S. government agency could be sued in a French court.

Recently declassified information shows that Echelon is a network of surveillance stations stitched together in the 1970s by the United States with Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand.

Résumé en français

Jean-Pierre Dintilhac, a ordonné au contre-espionnage (DST), de déterminer les actions du système Echelon. Ce système lie des ordinateurs dans au moins sept sites dans le monde pour recevoir et analyse toutes sortes d'information capturée par les satelllites de communication.

Si les résultats de l'enquête montre que le système est hostile aux intérets français, une procédure légale sera entammée, bien qu'il soit difficile de voir comment une agence gouvernementale americaine pourrait être poursuivie par une cour francaise.

De l'information récemment declassifiée montre que Echelon est un système de surveillance constitué durant la guerre froide dans les années 70s par les Etats-Unis, l'Australie, la Grande-Bretagne, le Canada et la Nouvelle-Zélande.

The system listens and watches for key words on a topic requested by a country. Some experts have said that the most extravagant claims against the Echelon system make little sense, because the National Security Agency is overwhelmed by the amount of information on the Internet.

It is widely believed that France operates its own surveillance system, which some have dubbed "Frenchelon," though it is believed to be much smaller than the U.S. system.

In Strasbourg, Mr. Dintilhac said he believes that either the Echelon system should be dismantled or Europe should have a hand in governing it.

"Echelon is used by the National Security Agency for strategic and economic gains," he said. "You cannot make me believe that the information is not passed on to American companies."

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Revised: juillet 07, 2000 .

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