Internet privacy activists and "hacktivists" have announced a day-long cyber-protest intended to jam a computer surveillance network whose existence isn't acknowledged by the governments said to run it. The activists set October 21 as "Jam Echelon Day," calling on individuals to . . .
Internet privacy activists and "hacktivists" have announced a day-long cyber-protest intended to jam a computer surveillance network whose existence isn't acknowledged by the governments said to run it. The activists set October 21 as "Jam Echelon Day," calling on individuals to attempt to clog the purported monitoring system by using so-called "trigger" words in e-mail messages. The Echelon system is said to monitor the use of certain words such as "bomb," or "terrorism," that could suggest dangerous activity.

"Echelon" is said to be a satellite-based telecommunications network that is capable of monitoring phone calls, faxes, and e-mails to and from targeted individuals. While the surveillance network is said to be run by the U.S. National Security Agency, with assistance from colleague agencies in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, all five nations deny the existence of the Echelon system.