The British intelligence and security agency GCHQ is not only capable of manipulating but also altering many of the most widespread communications services such as Facebook or YouTube, but also telephone calls.
The Intercept website today revealed documents (you can read them here) from reporter Glenn Greenwald, who has long collaborated with Edward Snowden, in an effort to unravel the tangle and expose the illegal surveillance tactics of Great Britain and the United States.
The program “WARPATH” allows “the mass sending of text messages in support of an information operation campaign”. Another program, “BURLESQUE” offers “the ability to send mass spoofed SMS text messages”. The combination of the two is a powerful tool for spreading false information with the aim of deception (for example, sending mass messages from forged senders can disrupt/split a mass protest movement).
The tools have also been extended to other services such as Facebook. The “CLEAN SWEEP” system allows GCHQ to “manipulate updates on an individual’s wall or even entire countries”, while the “GESTATOR” program allows for the amplification of a specific message” (increasing its reach) on “popular news sites” (the document specifically mentions YouTube).
Finally, the “UNDERPASS” program allows for the alteration of the results of online polls while other services target “Second Life” users. It is worth noting that the documents, although leaked today, were last updated by GCHQ on July 5, 2012.
The list described in the documents also contains other services/programs used by GCHQ. These include its ability to penetrate and record actions on computers with the Windows operating system in order to gain access to remote terminals by using Microsoft Office documents as trojan horses and other similar intrusion techniques.
Source: insomnia.gr
