Difference between revisions of "Maximator-Alliance"
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|description=Intelligence Alliance, similar to Five Eyes. | |description=Intelligence Alliance, similar to Five Eyes. | ||
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| − | '''Maximator''' (named after a type of beer from the German brewery Augustiner-Bräu) is an alliance between the secret services of Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden, comparable to the Five Eyes. It was founded in 1976 on the initiative of the Danish secret service | + | '''Maximator''' (named after a type of beer from the German brewery Augustiner-Bräu) is an alliance between the secret services of [[Denmark]], [[Germany]], [[France]], [[the Netherlands]], and [[Sweden]], comparable to the [[Five Eyes]]. It was founded in [[1976]] on the initiative of the Danish secret service, has operated largely undetected since then, and is still in existence. |
==Nieuwsuur== | ==Nieuwsuur== | ||
| − | Journalist Huub Modderkolk reported a similar network, and was followed on Dutch soil for his work. His book with | + | Journalist [[Huub Modderkolk]] reported a similar network, and was followed on Dutch soil for his work. His book with revelations was mostly used in [[Cold War 2.0]] efforts to highlight [[Russophobia]] in Dutch current affairs program ''[[Nieuwsuur]]''. |
| − | {{ | + | |
| + | ==Members== | ||
| + | Within the participating countries specific intelligence organisations played relevant roles. In [[Germany]] the [[Bundesnachrichtendienst|BND]] is responsible for (foreign) signals intelligence, whereas what was then called the [[Zentralstelle für das Chiffrierwesen|ZfCh]] did the cryptanalytical work. In [[Denmark]], [[Sweden]], and [[the Netherlands]] these activities were combined in respectively the [[Danish Defence Intelligence Service]] (DDIS), the [[Försvarets radioanstalt|National Defence Radio Establishment]], and the [[TIVC|Technical Information Processing Centre]]. French Maximator activities were part of the [[DGSE]].<ref name=Jacobs/> American services played a role in the background. | ||
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| + | ==Activities== | ||
| + | The most important tool for reconnaissance and decryption was the sale of encryption devices with weak encryption methods. This was done via [[Crypto AG]], a supposedly private Swiss company secretly owned by the [[BND]] and the [[CIA]]. <ref>https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/05/26/a-european-spy-pact-to-rival-the-five-eyes-comes-to-light</ref> | ||
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| + | So far, only the activities of the Dutch arm [[TIVC]] (formerly ''Technisch Informatie Verwerkingscentrum'' today Joint Signet Cyber Unit) are known. During the [[Falklands War]], Dutch gave the British [[GCHQ]] access to [[Crypto AG]] algorithms, enabling them to decode [[Argentine]] radio traffic, vital for winning the war. The Dutch had again received access to this information from the BND through the Maximator alliance. | ||
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| + | At the insistence of the [[CIA]], the sale of compromised encryption devices from the Dutch company [[Philips]] to [[Turkey]] was pushed through against the will of the BND and the TIVC.<ref name=Jacobs>https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02684527.2020.1743538</ref> | ||
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| + | The service maintained a ground station in the Caribbean on [[Curaçao]] that monitored and decoded radio traffic from [[Cuba]] and [[Venezuela]].<ref>https://heise.de/-4700198</ref> | ||
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| + | {{SMWDocs}} | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 07:06, 9 September 2022
 Maximator-Alliance  (Mass Surveillance, SIGINT)   | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Interests | Falklands War, Turkey, Cuba, Venezuela. |
| Exposed by | Hans van de Ven |
| Membership | • Denmark • Germany • France • Netherlands • Sweden |
| Intelligence Alliance, similar to Five Eyes. | |
Maximator (named after a type of beer from the German brewery Augustiner-Bräu) is an alliance between the secret services of Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden, comparable to the Five Eyes. It was founded in 1976 on the initiative of the Danish secret service, has operated largely undetected since then, and is still in existence.
Nieuwsuur
Journalist Huub Modderkolk reported a similar network, and was followed on Dutch soil for his work. His book with revelations was mostly used in Cold War 2.0 efforts to highlight Russophobia in Dutch current affairs program Nieuwsuur.
Members
Within the participating countries specific intelligence organisations played relevant roles. In Germany the BND is responsible for (foreign) signals intelligence, whereas what was then called the ZfCh did the cryptanalytical work. In Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands these activities were combined in respectively the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS), the National Defence Radio Establishment, and the Technical Information Processing Centre. French Maximator activities were part of the DGSE.[1] American services played a role in the background.
Activities
The most important tool for reconnaissance and decryption was the sale of encryption devices with weak encryption methods. This was done via Crypto AG, a supposedly private Swiss company secretly owned by the BND and the CIA. [2]
So far, only the activities of the Dutch arm TIVC (formerly Technisch Informatie Verwerkingscentrum today Joint Signet Cyber Unit) are known. During the Falklands War, Dutch gave the British GCHQ access to Crypto AG algorithms, enabling them to decode Argentine radio traffic, vital for winning the war. The Dutch had again received access to this information from the BND through the Maximator alliance.
At the insistence of the CIA, the sale of compromised encryption devices from the Dutch company Philips to Turkey was pushed through against the will of the BND and the TIVC.[1]
The service maintained a ground station in the Caribbean on Curaçao that monitored and decoded radio traffic from Cuba and Venezuela.[3]
Known members
All 5 of the members already have pages here:
| Member | Description |
|---|---|
| Denmark | Member of the EU, NATO. |
| France | A European nation, former colonial power, permanent seat on the UNSC |
| Germany | "The economic powerhouse of Europe" - Germany dominates the European Union. |
| Netherlands | Politicly fragmented and very densely populated country. Had very lenient drug and (underage) sex laws. Named a "narco-state" by neighbouring countries. Home of the first Bilderberg meeting. |
| Sweden | A nation state which is heavy on social control, but which defied the SDS COVID lockdown policy. |
