Submitted by: Sandra
Governmental Surveillance Agencies
Russia
Russia has at least two official surveillance agencies. One agency, the Federal Security Service (Federal'naya sluzhba bezopasnosti, or FSB) not only possesses investigatory powers, but even has its own troops. FSB also is authorized to conduct intelligence operations inside and outside Russia to enhance "the economic, scientific-technical and defense potential" of Russia. Thanks to regulations such as SORM (System for Ensuring Investigated Activity), FSB essentially has the power to monitor Internet transmissions coming in and out of Russia.
Russia
Russia has at least two official surveillance agencies. One agency, the Federal Security Service (Federal'naya sluzhba bezopasnosti, or FSB) not only possesses investigatory powers, but even has its own troops. FSB also is authorized to conduct intelligence operations inside and outside Russia to enhance "the economic, scientific-technical and defense potential" of Russia. Thanks to regulations such as SORM (System for Ensuring Investigated Activity), FSB essentially has the power to monitor Internet transmissions coming in and out of Russia.
In addition, the Federal Agency for Government Communications and Information (Federal'noye agentstvo paravitel'stvennykh svyazi i informatsii, or FAPSI) apparently has unlimited technical capabilities for monitoring communications and gathering intelligence, including monitoring of private networks. It too has its own troops (estimated at 54,000).
People's Republic of China
The People's Republic of China (PRC) created a Ministry of State Security in 1983. Not surprisingly, one of its chief tasks is to stop "enemy agents, spies and counterrevolutionary activities designed to ... overthrow China's socialist system." As a part of this effort, a special Internet police agency was started in 1998, which has launched several cybersurveillance initiatives to track dissidents as well as conduct espionage on foreigners. In addition, Chinese authorities are planning to build more advanced Internet monitoring systems that rival those of the West, including the United States' Carnivore.
The People's Republic of China (PRC) created a Ministry of State Security in 1983. Not surprisingly, one of its chief tasks is to stop "enemy agents, spies and counterrevolutionary activities designed to ... overthrow China's socialist system." As a part of this effort, a special Internet police agency was started in 1998, which has launched several cybersurveillance initiatives to track dissidents as well as conduct espionage on foreigners. In addition, Chinese authorities are planning to build more advanced Internet monitoring systems that rival those of the West, including the United States' Carnivore.
