2001, in mainstream UK newspaper http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/may/30/eu.politics4
> the European Parliament warned EU citizens of the threat to their privacy from Echelon, a global eavesdropping network run by the US National Security Agency in cooperation with Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. As we reported on Saturday, it concluded that the primary purpose of the system is to "intercept private and commercial communications". It urged individuals and businesses to use codes to protect their communications.
> Half of the UK and US government are saying it's news to them
1999, from the website of this secret agency https://web.archive.org/web/19990428012157/http://www.gchq.g...
> GCHQ employs one of the largest long term bulk near line storage systems in the world. Data is stored in a number of locations on a variety of media, including magnetic tape, cartridges, recordable Compact Disc and optical storage technologies.
What did they think was being done with the largest long term storage system in the world?
> GCHQ has an interest in all aspects of modern telecommunications and uses a variety of systems designed to operate on all frequencies over which data can be transmitted.
I'll admit that the GCHQ FAQ got a bit slimier later on. See this page from 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20040604234303/http://www.gchq.g...
> People sometimes think that we cannot be accountable because we do not disclose much about GCHQ's operations and methods.
> Nothing could be further from the truth.
> In fact, GCHQ is subject to very rigorous oversight both by Parliament and senior members of the judiciary, and works entirely within a legal framework which complies with the European Convention on Human Rights.
> Activities at GCHQ are underpinned by the Intelligence Services Act 1994 (amended most recently by the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001) and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The purposes for which interception may be permitted are set out explicitly in these Acts: national security, safeguarding economic wellbeing, and the prevention and detection of serious crime. Interception for other purposes is not lawful, and we do not do it.
But I've already condemned this kind of wording used to justify unjustifiable privacy violation.
EDIT: It's mildly interesting reading through the technology pages to see it iterating. They list Win3.1 in the early versions!