100 years of secret services and cooperation of the telecommunications industry

The cooperation between the British and American intelligence services, and telecommunications companies from the early 20th century.

The author of bestselling James Bamford researched this area and shared as part of the Hamburg 31. Chaos Communication Congress (31C3) is the most important information. In 1982 he published the book, The Puzzle Palace, which was the first book, which he said the United States available on the National Security Agency (NSA).

The author says that the foundations of today's practice established by the British in the early 20th century. The secret services of the island countries have already accessed the cables on the seabed. It was a difficult time, because the networks were state property. It was much more difficult situation, the predecessor of the NSA, based in Manhattan, The Black House. In the United States in the 1920s, defended the secrecy of correspondence, so could not take place without the cooperation of telecommunications companies in any action.

Herbert Yadley, then head of the agency contacted the principal service providers and network access to each. Western Union officers without thinking what he gave her, and the seat Postal Telegraph and any other company involved in the discussions on the issue of lawyers. Convinced the cooperation of all companies by the end of the first year.

Bamford said that in 1929 - Due to the growing concerns of privacy - The Black Chambered abolished, but in World War II restored, and in the middle of the 1940s was abolished again. The idea of cooperation in the telecommunications sector, however, remained. Corderman Preston, director of the US Army Security Agency (ASA), tried to negotiate with companies like AT & T, but threw noble simplicity, that brought up the idea. Western Union, however, turned out to be useful again, but this time, as the RCA will stipulated that the Department of Justice to oversee the project. Like the sought -t AT & T, which capitulated.

The NSA was first formed slowly built a secret office in New York and his staff each day at the time seemed centers telecommunications companies after midnight. Always came out the back door and left by those as well, collected the resulting long telegrams and telephone conversations took notes and then copy and returned to the original recording centers before the day shift . All the data obtained was a computer with the help of - for example, might be different names and content search - without judicial authorization.

However, mainly from the RCA will continue to written permission. During the presidency of Harry S. Truman, General Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a document to the same company, but it does not respond to management. Former Defense Secretary James Forrestal in the RCA executives assured that all was well. Later, telecom operators have received a memorandum prepared by Truman, but only saw Tom Clark signed by the Minister of Justice.

In 1975, the US Congress Church Committee, was on the secret. Bamford had previously worked for the judgments of the NSA in Puerto Rico, and eye and ear witness was that wiretapping of American citizens. The program is called Minaret treated with suspected terrorists, such as Jane Fonda, Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King. He informed the Committee about the things he experienced chairman Frank Church. The words of many other NSA works. Bella Abzug representatives criticized the leaders of the telecom giants, why they released the "targeted" lists. I tried in vain to prevent this happening Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, the scandal could not be avoided.

Indicates that the US Department of Justice in 1976 produced criminal records of the NSA, which included, among other things, that the whole office of the same criminal organization like the Mafia. Bamford, the recent experience of the online magazine The interception was also reported, and now invited to launch a full criminal investigation against the NSA and the CIA. Unlike the procedure of the church board, however, should be made available to the court and to remove criminals in prison.

Source: www.heise.de, sg.hu