A new European Parliament document confirms the existence of a secretive US-led communications surveillance network, known as Echelon.

The working document describes the way that the network's intelligence agencies tap into satellite transmissions and undersea communications cables to spy on Europe.

Past evidence of Echelon is limited to media investigations and individual studies commissioned by the European Parliament. Its existence has never been officially acknowledged.

Although it is not finalised, the document indicates that the report committee is moving towards heavy criticism of the surveillance system.

Open and closed

The document recommends that all European citizens should encrypt their email and steer clear of closed software. It recommends using open source software that can be checked for hidden backdoors - the source code behind most commercial software is kept a closely guarded secret.

The final report could therefore increase pressure on governments to encourage the use of encryption in Europe. The UK's Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act currently gives law enforcers permission to seize the keys used to lock encrypted messages under special circumstances.

Neil MacCormick, vice chairman of the European Parliament's Temporary Committee on the Echelon Interception System, told New Scientist: "Member states have recently been more anxious that they can crack codes than protect their citizens."

Data on tap

The document is clear about the status of Echelon: "That a system for intercepting communications exists, operating by means of co-operation proportionate to their capabilities among the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, is no longer in doubt."

It says the cheapest method for wire-tapping communications is via undersea cables, which means mainly listening in via communications that pass through the UK.

The working document also suggests that the Echelon network could be in breach of European human rights law and calls for the UK to be more accountable for use of the system. The UK is the key European nation among the suspected partners.

Simon Davies, director of Privacy International and an Information Systems research fellow at the London School of Economics, says that the finished report promises to be a balanced assessment of modern intelligence gathering. "These are not a bunch of radicals," he says. "Originally they were very sceptical about Echelon."

Web links:

European Parliament Temporary Committee on the Echelon Interception System

TCEIS working document