GCSB Waihopai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Government Communications Security Bureau operates what it describes as a satellite communications monitoring facility in the Waihopai Valley.[1][2] First announced in 1987, the facility has been identified by MP Keith Locke[3] as part of ECHELON, the worldwide network of signals interception facilities run by the UKUSA consortium of intelligence agencies (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the Intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ).[4]
[edit] Operations
Its two satellite interception dishes (shielded by giant domes)[5] intercept a huge volume of satellite phone calls, telexes, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications. It gathers this data from New Zealand's Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards it on to the major partners in the UKUSA Agreement, including the US National Security Agency. Few details of the facility are known, but it is believed that it intercepts and processes all phone calls, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications. It gathers this data from New Zealand's and Asia/Pacific neighbours, and forwards it to the UKUSA consortium's distinguished customers, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.[citation needed]
The Waihopai station is a sister operation to a similar facility run at Tangimoana.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.gcsb.govt.nz/aboutus/dscu.html
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/new_zealand/gcsb.htm
- ^ Speech in Parliament's General Debate, Wednesday, March 1, 3.55pm.
- ^ [www.converge.org.nz/pma/subgcsb.htm Submissions on the GCSB Bill]
- ^ Eyeballing the Waihopai facility at Cryptome.org
