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Echelon Architect Interviewed
ploog writes "Echelon has been surrounded by controversy since rumors of it first popped up on the net. The US Government has never admitted to it, although various other governments have. Now, a lead architect for Echelon and its "big brother," Echelon II, has been discovered and interviewed. This is fascinating stuff. He is able to give some details about how Echelon works, although he doesn't come divulge everything, for obvious reasons.
Trying to deny Echelon just got that much harder. Link found via Megarad.com."
You'd like us to believe that, wouldn't you?? You're in on it too!
Boy the moderators are going to have fun with the redundant mod today!
ok, so i just read the article... if this is all true, it implies that the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Administration (in cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies) actually spy on communications including email and voice? and that they use computer systems to do it? and they even have a code name for it? WTF???!!!
why weren't we kept informed about this?
Compared to the information leaked by Windows' security holes and XP reporting everything about you to Microsoft, Echelon looks like an "a/s/l?" request.
Don't fear the government. Fear MS.
Yet the architect for Echelon II indirectly reveals some secrets to us. One of the ways Echelon works is by using words and voice recognition, as well as automatic translation
Umm yeah, nobody thought it did that.
Think about it, it listens in on everything we say and type. I know it must be automatically programmed into the SAC/NORAD so it can automatically launch offsenives if it monitors a phone call or email warning of an impending attack. With all this "human", "unfiltered" knowledge going through it, it shouldn't be long before it becomes self aware and after listening to umpteen gazillion phone calls that are so incredibly mundane and banal, it realizes that humans are hardly worth the carbon they're based on, then decides to take over the planet.
Here is a mirror site.
this on april fools day.
as long as it takes for Jed Bartlett to say "take him."
I merged with the Helios A.I., so all of this is very exciting.
Too bad Slashdot doesn't blacklist based on humor error; we'd have half as many posts.