Project Echelon
It has been suggested that British and American security services together operate a highly secretive world-wide signals intelligence and analysis network, code-named ECHELON.
It is alleged that this network intercepts electronic communications, searching for
- hints of terrorist plots
- drug-dealers' plans
- political and diplomatic intelligence
Some critics, including the European Union, claim the system is being used also for large-scale commercial theft and invasion of privacy.
A committee of the European Parliament looked into this allegation. Its conclusion: there is no serious threat. 
The technical capabilities of the system are probably not nearly as extensive as some sections of the media had assumed
.
Intercepting private messages is an infringement of the human right to privacy and the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
What justification(s) can a government have for an illegal activity like this? Are you persuaded by this reasoning?
Read more about Project Echelon on wikipedia
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