Échelon, le pouvoir secret

After World War II, various espionage networks and organisations were established, particularly in the United States. During the Cold War, the US co-operated with Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in this respect. Together, they developed a large-scale network that is known as Echelon. Huge antennae were positioned in different places all over the world. The Cold War is now far behind us, but Echelon is still fully operational. In this film, composed as an espionage thriller, a corner of the veil that covers the international eavesdropping circuit is raised. Journalists, people who regret their spying activities and former staff members of national security organisations like the American National Security Agency (also facetiously called No Such Agency) reveal what they know. Their message is frightening: the technology of the equipment installed worldwide is so advanced that nearly every phone call, e-mail or fax can currently be intercepted. The power of the US is the greatest in this field, even if the vain attempts to locate Osama Bin Laden prove that the system is not yet infallible. The most intriguing fact is the knowledge that organisations like the NSA have an influence that is far beyond the authority of individual governments. What this means now and in the future with respect to the security and independence of Europe, the battle against terrorism or the protection of individual citizens is a matter for conjecture. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)