Activists Plan International Protest Against Echelon Surveillance

Internet activists are planning an international day of protest on Oct. 21 in an effort to jam Echelon, the super-secret global surveillance system. But privacy experts warn the protest is unlikely to succeed. Organizers of the cyber-event are encouraging the Internet . . . Internet activists are planning an international day of protest on Oct. 21 in an effort to jam Echelon, the super-secret global surveillance system. But privacy experts warn the protest is unlikely to succeed. Organizers of the cyber-event are encouraging the Internet community to send as many e-mail messages as possible, containing certain "trigger words" that the Echelon system is believed to pick up on. They theorize that if monitored emails reach a critical mass, the Echelon intelligence system will be overworked.

A list of 1,700 suspicious words - including "hackers", "encryption" and "espionage" - have been listed on the Ciperwar Web site, to be included in email, telephone or fax communications on the "Jam Echelon Day."