The background is as follows: several years ago (in early 1990, a friend of mine, who I will call Warren, told me a fantastic tale. It seems that Warren has a friend who, about five years earlier (i.e., circa 1985) had worked as an engineer with AT&T. Warren's friend was assigned to design a small portion of a giant new telecommunications system for the Federal Government. After working on this project for about a year, Warren's friend started to have serious misgivings about the systems he was designing. The deeper he got into the project, the more disturbing and sinister it seemed. Finally, the horrible truth became too obvious to ignore: the system AT&T was designing was intended to put a full-time, 24-hour-a-day, illegal wire tap on every telephone in the United States! This diabolical invasion of privacy was to be accomplished by routing all telephone calls through a giant central processing center, where high-speed computers would "listen" to and record each and every call. If the computer detected certain "key words" or "key phrases", the recording would be "flagged" for later analysis by Federal agents. If no such "keys" were detected, the call would be erased. The system also provided for remotely activating the microphones in telephone handset, thus effectively "bugging" any home that Government agents might desire. This procedure is called making a telephone "hot on the hook."
Being a man of some integrity and principle, Warren's friend confronted his bosses at AT&T, telling them that the project they were embarked upon was illegal, unethical, and immoral. They seemed genuinely surprised that anyone would even bother to consider such factors, and promptly fired Warren's friend.
Obviously, the allegations made by my friend Warren were appalling and terrifying. However, I had no way to either prove or disprove them. Recently, however, other writers with access to inside intelligence sources have provided detailed confirmation of what I was told in 1990.
First, Donald McAlvany, Editor of the MCAlvany Intelligence Advisor, has stated in his January 1993 issue that
"Phone can now be made 'hot on the hook' (i.e., turned into microphones even when hung up and not in use). According to a 1992 report by the General Accounting Office entitled FBI ADVANCED WIRETAPPING TECHNOLOGIES POSE WIRETAPPING CHALLENGES, it is the intention of the FBI to tap all phones in America."
Additional confirmation now comes from the pages of a brand new 1994 book entitled Prince of Darkness: Antichrist and the New World Order, by well-known Canadian author Grant Jeffrey, In Chapter 6 of Prince of Darkness, entitled "The Assault on Your Freedoms", Jeffrey states:
"Most people still innocently believe that their phone calls are private Unfortunately, Government agencies worldwide possess sophisticated surveillance equipment that can record your phone calls without directly tapping your phone. All long distance calls are routed through central stations and satellites back to earth. The National Security Agency and its sister agencies in other western countries now monitor every single phone call, fax, and electronic mail transmission in the world.
A BBC television special report on intelligence and the British government's use of the "Dictionary" program revealed the massive monitoring of phone calls.
Obviously, it is impossible to listen to millions of simultaneous phone calls, faxes, and electronic mail messages. Nor is it necessary. A huge array of sophisticated machines records millions of microwave telephonic voice and digital computer signals passing through the air. The signals are downloaded to a group of Cray IV super computers that completes an instantaneous word analysis. The "Dictionary" computer program listens for specific words from a list of three hundred selected key words, numbers, or addresses. All calls that do not include these key words are immediately erased without being listened to by a human. However, if any of these key words appear, the computers will download that phone call for later hu an a analysis."
Universal monitoring of phone calls and other electronic transmissions has therefore now been confirmed by sources no less prestigious than the U.S. General Accounting Office and the British Braodcasting Company. Of course, here in America, such routine monitoring of private telephone conversations is as illegal as it is atrocious. Such practices violate anti-wiretapping laws, as well as the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees that Americans shall be free from warrantless "unreasonable searches", stating that "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated." To computer screen billions of private telephone conversations without benefit of warrant or even probable cause certainly constitutes a violation of the Fourth Amendment so huge and hideous that it can scarcely be conceived. In Florida, the violation of law represented by such massive monitoring is even rendered for crystal clear by the plain language of the Florida Constitution. For example, Section 12 of the Florida Constitution, entitled Searches and Seizures, states "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and against the unreasonable interception of private communications by any means, shall not be violated." The clause protecting "private communications" was added in 1982 specifically to protect Florida citizens against illegal wiretapping. These provisions are augmented by Section 23 of the Florida Constitution, entitled RIght of Privacy. Adopted in 1980, Section 23 states that "Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from government intrusion into his private life." Obviously, the oppressive specter of Government computers listening to and analyzing every word you speak on the telephone certainly constitutes an "intrusion into our private lives"
Ultimately, we must all pray that the total illegality and immorality of "Dictionary" - type automated telecommunications monitoring systems will generate such overwhelming resentment that they, and the wicked governments they serve, will be dismantled forever. Until that joyous day arrives, however, American patriots everywhere must begin to operate based on the presumption that everything they say on the phone or transmit via fax is being screened by Government computers.
The American Patriotic Movement obviously needs to develop some type of reliable communications system that is secure from Government spying. Until such a system is deployed, individual patriots need to take steps to avoid arousing the suspicions of either Government computers or agents. First, discuss patriotic resistance measure face-to-face whenever possible. If you must use the telephone, develop innocent-sounding code words and phrases to represent ideas, concepts, equipment, or other "politically incorrect" subjects that might "freak out" your friendly neighborhood Cray IV. Since we don't know how many "key words" and/or "Key Phrases" will offend the delicate sensibilities of Government computers, or what these words or phrases are, you will simply have to use your over-active imagination and try to err on the side of caution. Second, be sure to spread this warning to all other American patriots you know, plus your other friends, coworkers, church members, and relatives. And finally, contact your elected representatives and demand that this outrageous invasion of privacy be permanently stopped.
The next time that phone rings, proceed with great caution, because BIG BROTHER IS LISTENING TO YOU!
For additional information on this and related subjects, contact:
THE MCALVANY INTELLIGENCE ADVISOR P.O. Box 5150 Durango, CO 81301 Phone (303) 259-4100 Grant Jeffrey Ministries P.O. Box 129, Station "U" Toronto, Ontario, M8Z 5M4 Canada Phone (905) 271-6960 Jim Cook MIT Center for Space Research Cambridge, Ma jcook@space.mit.edu