Echelon Rising: Everything you Say, Write, Or Tweet Is Analyzed, Processed and Prioritized

Created in the 1960’s, the original ECHELON network was designed as a signals intelligence data collection and processing network that listened in on all phone calls and faxes in the East Bloc during the height of the Cold War. It was reportedly created by United States intelligence services and operated by a host of agencies from America, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Photo: Echelon Processing Facility Menwith Hill, UK

After the cold war end, with no apparent enemy to contend with, Echelon remained operational and expanded its reach across all of Europe, turning its ears on entire populations, as opposed to just officials of the Soviet Union. It’s believed that the system is now capable of intercepting phones calls, fax, text, email and other forms of digital and analog communication.

More than likely, the system has been merged with more modern day counterparts such as the FBI’s Carnivore, which, like Echelon, is designed to sniff out critical information and flag it for human analysis. With the passage of Patriot Act in the United States, as well as other surveillance policies enacted over the last twenty years, Echelon, Carnivore and their new iterations developed in secret for secret uses, have been turned on the new enemies of the states – the people.

By all accounts – and even high level law enforcement officials will agree – electronic communications in any form are no longer private. Everything you say, write, tweet or share is now analyzed, processed and prioritized by automated computer systems designed to weed out actionable intelligence.

Take the latest example of a couple of Brits who entered the United States for a fun-filled vacation. Amid their excitement they sent out a couple of tweets:

According to the Sun newspaper, Leigh tweeted at a friend, “Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America?” He later tweeted a reference to Family Guy: “3 weeks today, we’re totally in LA p*ssing people off on Hollywood Blvd and diggin’ Marilyn Monroe up!”

DHS saw his messages and detained him and his friend upon their arrival at LAX. They were held and questioned for five hours before being handcuffed and transferred to prison cells guarded by armed officials.

Leigh says he tried to explain that ‘destroy’ is slang for partying hard in Britain but the DHS officials held the two on suspicion of planning to “commit crimes.” The story goes that they thought Leigh’s friend Emily was there to act as a look-out while Leigh raided the crypt of Marilyn Monroe. They even checked their luggage for shovels. The two were sent home on a plane the next morning, but Leigh was also issued with papers detailing the reason he was refused entry to the U.S.

Source: Tom’s Guide

A seemingly innocent tweet, analyzed by a computer and flagged, led to detainment, arrest and even potential charges of crimes against the United States.

It’s that easy to become a person-of-interest and potential terrorist in America these days.

Related Video: Mark Dice Weighs In