U.S. Department of State [...]
Daily Press BriefingWEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2000
Briefer: JAMES P. RUBINQUESTION: Do you have anything to say about this hoo-haw that has erupted in Europe over - especially in France about the Echelon program?
MR. RUBIN: Yes, I do have something I would like to say about that, to the surprise of some of you.
Although we never comment on actual or alleged - hold on - on actual or alleged intelligence activities, we have taken note that the European Union is looking at a report which deals with this topic. Although we cannot comment on the substance of the report, I can say that the National Security Agency is not authorized to provide intelligence information to private firms. That agency acts in strict accordance with American law.
As the Aspin/Brown Commission Report of 1996 explains, US intelligence agencies are not tasked to engage in industrial espionage or obtain trade secrets for the benefit of any US company or companies.
QUESTION: And I take it that no matter what I ask after that, there isn't going to be anything else?
MR. RUBIN: Not much.
QUESTION: Well, does - then I'll ask it anyway. Does the NSA do industrial espionage for the government sources?
MR. RUBIN: The NSA is not authorized to provide intelligence information to private firms. The Aspin/Brown Commission Report of 1996 explains that US intelligence agencies are not tasked to engage in industrial espionage, or obtain trade secrets for the benefit of any US company or companies.
QUESTION: You leave out the government, though.
MR. RUBIN: Government? I just said, "US intelligence agencies are not tasked to engage in industrial espionage."
QUESTION: For?
MR. RUBIN: Comma, "or obtain trade secrets for the benefit of any US company or companies."
QUESTION: Right. But it's not - okay.
MR. RUBIN: That's a comma.
QUESTION: I know. But it leaves out --
MR. RUBIN: A comma before "or" does not equal "for."
QUESTION: I know. But that still leaves the possibility that there is such spying going on and the government is using it itself somehow because we're talking about --
MR. RUBIN: "US intelligence agencies are not tasked to engage in industrial espionage, or obtain trade secrets for the benefit of any US company or companies." That's what I've been provided.
QUESTION: Qualified by the --
MR. RUBIN: There's a comma there. I hope it's in the right place.
QUESTION: Do you acknowledge that the Echelon program exists?
MR. RUBIN: I think I've said about as much as I can say on this issue.
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