# ECHELON ECHELON is the historical name associated with a distributed signals-intelligence collection and sharing system linked to the [[Five Eyes]] partnership and the [[UKUSA Agreement]]. Public accounts describe a networked architecture rather than one device or one legal authority. ## Notebook evidence [[Scanned_20260730-1830]], PDF pages 1–3, uses ECHELON as the bridge from Crossfire Hurricane and political investigation to a global alliance-and-collection map. The movement is conceptual: from who opened an investigation to what transnational infrastructure could collect and share signals. ## Historical caution ECHELON, [[PRISM Surveillance Program|PRISM]], [[Room 641A]], and [[STELLARWIND]] must not be merged. They refer to different periods, acquisition positions, disclosures, organizational arrangements, and legal contexts. ## Source - [[Scanned_20260730-1830]], PDF pages 1–3.