April 2004. Brussels: ADSL Network Listening Test
Excerpt from the Belgian daily newspaper "La Dernière Heure," dated April 14, 2004
A Wiretap on Belgacom's ADSL Network
Will it be installed next weekend for a final test?
Brussels: Combating terrorism, pedophilia, and organized crime requires constant vigilance. That's why Belgium has recently enacted various laws, particularly concerning telephone wiretaps, enabling an effective fight against different forms of crime. One consequence of this law will be the installation next weekend of a wiretap on Belgacom's ADSL network. Everyone knows the explosion in electronic communications and their increasing use by organized crime. But it must be understood that despite significant progress, authorities still faced many difficulties monitoring activity on the Internet.
"We had to cross-reference data from various sources and rely on the carelessness of offenders, since ultimately, whatever was on the suspect's computer remained decisive," explained an expert.
With the system as planned for Belgacom's network, it will now be possible to implement real-time listening services similar to those used for mobile phones. Specifically, the CTIF (Central Technical Interception System, under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior) will install a Nice-track device on Belgacom's fiber-optic lines. This small box will be connected to a central hub and, if necessary, will allow authorities to instantly obtain copies of all information transmitted over any given ADSL line (broadband internet) of a specific individual. Emails, websites, downloads—nothing will escape these intrusive ears.
This, to be sure, will not fail to raise eyebrows. While the principle is similar to traditional telephone wiretaps, the system is now far more extensive. It will be a device capable of monitoring any ADSL user at any time.
In short, unlike telephone wiretaps, this listening device will be permanent, even if not activated.
This naturally worries the many Internet service providers who might legitimately fear for the confidentiality of their transactions—banks, online retailers, and others. Nevertheless, the matter appears entirely legal. Although police, the Ministry of the Interior, and Belgacom declined to comment, we were reminded of the noble objectives behind this installation—fighting terrorism, combating pedophilia—objectives which no one doubts.
We were also reminded that any wiretap can only be ordered by a judge, and only in specific, extremely serious circumstances.
At present, this is merely a test, potentially affecting all ADSL lines in the Brussels region, since a single device is sufficient to monitor all lines. Once the system is installed during the night from Sunday to Monday, CTIF experts will test it themselves to verify the feasibility of the setup.
However, since no one would tell us any more—curious, given it's a legal procedure, but well, let's not quibble—we were unable to learn how the system's evaluation would be conducted or how long it would last.
Benoit Gilson
La Dernière Heure: April 15, 2004
Belgacom Wiretap: Police Confirms
If the tests are successful,
all providers will be affected
Brussels: The federal police confirmed yesterday our reports that they will conduct tests this weekend to enable monitoring of Belgacom's ADSL (broadband) internet. A device (Nice-tracks) will be installed for this purpose on the operator's fiber-optic network.
Initially, police officers will test the system themselves to validate the technology, which will ultimately allow monitoring of any ADSL line.
The police also reiterated, as we explained yesterday, that both telephone and internet wiretaps are strictly regulated in Belgium and can only occur upon a judge's order and for extremely serious reasons.
Finally, according to the federal police, once the technology is validated—which, according to consulted experts, should pose no difficulty—it will be mandatory for all Belgian internet access providers, not just Belgacom, as required by the new wiretap law.
B. GH
La Dernière Heure: April 16, 2004
There is logic behind tests aimed at monitoring internet sites and intercepting electronic messages. Without wiretaps, how can we fight organized crime, drug trafficking, pedophilia, and terrorism? But imagine coupling this technology with France's proposed Faure law, which mandates the loss of confidentiality in electronic mail. Surveillance could then expand to a global scale, using text recognition systems. That said, international terrorist networks have long known the vulnerabilities of internet communications. They are also fully aware of modern encryption techniques, capable of hiding messages within ordinary-looking images. Finally, there remains the old, time-honored trick: to trigger a remote operation, simply place an advertisement in a newspaper saying something like:
"Looking for a vintage car of such make, such year..."
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