In the information society, the utilization of IT applications such as computers, cellular phones, and the Internet are essential in all fields of life. In addition, the development of IT technology continues to network between organizations. For this reason, information has become a web of connections.
Social networking, interchanges between individuals, has extended without any restrictions. That is, the restriction of time and space is almost lost. As a result, under the information-oriented society, the movement of information and communication is performed without any restriction. However, there is a problem, the invasion of privacy by hacking, wiretapping etc. Personal information is sometimes abused by national organizations and authorities.
In "Enemy of the State”, the movie shows us how authorities can illegally and indiscriminately use information against us. There are many methods available to do this, such as wiretapping, reading, and manipulating personal information.
Abroad, communication monitoring is well known. Taking a step forward, these intelligence agencies are developing elaborate wiretapping and monitoring activities utilizing hi-tech equipment, such as wireless communication and e-mail as well as wire telephone and facsimile.
While the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) of the U.S.A is widely known, it is in fact, the NSA (National Security Agency) that has the largest information-gathering intelligence agents of the U.S.A. The CIA has about fifteen thousand ~ twenty thousand people. On the other hand, the agents at the NSA are about 38 thousand people that had academic backgrounds with master’s degrees. They are hiring excellent mathematicians to interpret passwords of the nation. The NSA founded in 1952 is a secret organization covered to the thickest veil among intelligence agents. The NSA, which is a short designation, often goes by the alias of 'No Such Agency' and 'Never Say Anything'.
NSA operates the Echelon project. The Echelon project is an information gathering and cooperating system among Anglo-Saxon nations. The Echelon project was established to prepare for information warfare with Communist nations. However, after the end of the cold war, it has operated as an international crimes and terror prevention agency. Recently, it has been criticized utilizing wiretapping of commercial domestic companies for its own purposes.
The Echelon project that started with agreements between the United States and England in 1947 grew. NSA is achieving a cooperative system with Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) of England, Communications Security Establishment (CSE) of Canada, Defense Signals Directorate (DSD) of Australia and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) of New Zealand. However, NSA only permits unlimited information to primary member nations and secondary member nations. Third member nations only offered limited information from the NSA.
The primary member nation. / U.S.A and UK
The secondary member nation / Australia, Canada, New Zealand
The third member nation / NATO, Japan, South Korea, Turkey
The Echelon project can overhear and tap into almost any voice, radio wave or e-mail. Things such as telephones, faxes, building wiretapping, e-mail, financial information, all kinds of airplanes and radio waves of war vessels are connected to a network of the Echelon Project. In addition, they are wiretapping cables under the ocean using submarines.
They are sending up satellites, more than 120 all over the world. One year’s operating expenses is about $20 billion dollars. The international information that is gathered from various places is sent to NSA computers in Maryland, U.S.A, and analyzed.
It does not seem to matter that nations have laws that protect citizens private lives, each nation’s government is strengthening the roles of national security organizations under the pretext that it is necessary to fight against terror and organized crime.
Closed circuit televisions (CCTV) have been installed in many of the British main facilities and streets. Several places such as a train station amount to 4.2 million CCTVs. CCTV was installed at a rate of one per 15 people. England has the world’s largest DNA database under the control and use of police. Recently, they are proceeding with ID card issues that have living body recognition information such as a fingerprints, an iris of an eyeball and lineaments.
As globalization progresses, the threat and range of crime and terrorism has grown into fields that are not only traditional military but also nonmilitary.
These days, as computer and communication networks grow all over the world; cyber crime like computer hacking or virus propagation is being highlighted as factors threatening the security of a nation.
The progress of democracy is an international trend. There is a trend for strong checks and controls regarding an intelligence agent. To survive, intelligence agents or secret services should reflect change to go with the stream of times, and satisfy that which the times require. If the intelligence agents protect a liberal democratic system, and effectively respond in various material security threats, they will be able to get confidence and a support from people. Furthermore, they can firmly stop a dangerous presence as the national intelligence agent.