It is nothing new, read about it in the New York Times.
Quote:
May 27, 1999
Lawmakers Raise Questions About International Spy Network
By NIALL McKAY
An international surveillance network established by the National Security Agency and British intelligence services has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, as lawmakers in the United States question whether the network, known as Echelon, could be used to monitor American citizens.
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http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/05/cyber/articles/27network.html
Alex