Five Eyes

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Five Eyes

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Abbreviation	FVEY
Type	Intelligence alliance
Membership	Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States

The Five Eyes (FVEY) is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These countries are parties to the multilateral UKUSA Agreement, a treaty for joint cooperation in signals intelligence.

History

The origins of the Five Eyes alliance can be traced back to the post-World War II period, with the signing of the UKUSA Agreement in 1946. This agreement was initially a bilateral agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States, but it was later extended to include Canada in 1948, and Australia and New Zealand in 1956.

Operations

The Five Eyes alliance operates a global surveillance network, which includes the interception and collection of signals intelligence (SIGINT). The member countries share intelligence and collaborate on various security and defense matters. The alliance is known for its extensive use of electronic surveillance and data sharing.

Member Agencies

Each member country has its own intelligence agencies that contribute to the Five Eyes alliance:

• Australia: Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)
• Canada: Communications Security Establishment (CSE)
• New Zealand: Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB)
• United Kingdom: Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
• United States: National Security Agency (NSA)

Controversies

The Five Eyes alliance has been the subject of various controversies, particularly regarding issues of privacy and mass surveillance. The Edward Snowden revelations in 2013 brought significant public attention to the extent of the surveillance activities conducted by the alliance.

Related Pages

• UKUSA Agreement
• Signals intelligence
• Electronic surveillance
• Edward Snowden
• Mass surveillance

See Also

• Echelon (signals intelligence)
• Intelligence sharing
• Global surveillance disclosures (2013–present)