Frenchelon
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Frenchelon is the nickname given to French signal intelligence system in reference to its Anglo-Saxon counterpart ECHELON.
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[edit] History
Its existence has never been officially acknowledged by French authorities, although numerous journalists, based on military information have mentioned it, since the European Union investigated ECHELON and also its implications in counter-terrorism.
[edit] Operations
The system is alledgedly operated by DGSE, whose Direction Technique (Technical Direction) is responsible for signal intelligence.
The most important station is in Domme near Sarlat in Perigord, other stations on French metropolitan territory are (Alluets-Feucherolles, Mutzig, Mont Valérien, Plateau d'Albion, St Laurent de la Salenque, Cap d’Agde, Solenzara, Filley).
There are some other stations in overseas territories and former colonies
- Saint-Barthélemy
- Bouar
- Djibouti
- Mayotte
- Reunion
- Kourou
- and Tontouta in New Caledonia
These stations in addition to the DGSE headquarter on boulevard Mortier in Paris intercept electronic communications, decipher using software coded communications of diplomatic, military or industrial origin.
It shouldn't be confused with the French Army's official listening system Emeraude, which used to be mistakenly conflated with Frenchelon.
[edit] Suspected intercept sites
Places where intercept sites would be expected, mainly attached to diplomatic missions. These are classic cabinet noir installations, but seldom occupy more space than a small bathroom.
- Algeria (diplomatic mission)
- Argentina : Buenos Aires
- Australia : Canberra, Sydney
- Belgium : Brussels (EU diplomatic traffic related)
- Brasil : Rio de Janeiro
- Canada : Montreal, Ottawa
- Estonia : Tallinn
- Ireland (diplomatic mission)
- Latvia : Riga
- Malta : Valetta
- Mexico : Mexico City
- New Zealand : Wellington
- Russia : Moscow
- Spain (Spanish exclaves in North Africa)
- UK : London (diplomatic mission)
- Ukraine : Kiev
- USA : New York City (United Nations traffic related)
- USA : Washington, DC (diplomatic traffic non UN)
