DATE=2/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S SPY NETWORK (L)
NUMBER=2-259495
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   The United States is denying allegations by a 
British journalist that it has been using a world wide 
electronic spy system for industrial espionage in 
Europe.  From the State Department, V-O-A's Kyle King 
reports.

TEXT:  The allegations of U-S industrial espionage 
have provoked calls for the European Union to set up a 
committee of inquiry to look into the issue.

The demand emerged (Wednesday) as a European Union 
parliamentary committee studied a report by British 
Journalist Duncan Campbell.

Mr. Campbell's report claims the United States, 
Britain and other key allies have, since the cold war, 
maintained a sophisticated electronic spy network 
called "Echelon."

His report says the network of spy satellites and 
electronic eavesdropping equipment can monitor phone 
conversations, faxes, and electronic mail.

The report calls the surveillance network a threat to 
civil liberties and alleges it has been used to 
collect economically sensitive information that 
provides a commercial advantage to U-S companies.

State Department spokesman James Rubin refused to 
comment on the existence of the system, but he denied 
U-S intelligence agencies are engaged in industrial 
espionage.

            /// RUBIN ACT ///

      U-S intelligence agencies are not tasked to 
      engage in industrial espionage, or obtain trade 
      secrets for the benefit of any U-S company or 
      companies.

            /// end act ///

According to the British report, the Echelon program 
monitors world wide communications with a network of 
satellite and ground based listening posts.  The 
network was established during the cold war for 
military surveillance.

French officials have alleged that Britain has also 
benefited commercially from information gathered by 
the network, allegations British Prime Minister Tony 
Blair has denied.  (Signed)

NEB/KBK/ENE/gm/national/europe




23-Feb-2000 15:31 PM EDT (23-Feb-2000 2031 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.