How the surveillance works

The "proxy loophole":

Intelligence agencies within the alliance often have legal restrictions that prevent them from directly surveilling their own citizens. However, they can legally request that a Five Eyes partner agency conduct surveillance on their citizens and share the collected data. This allows them to monitor domestic internet traffic by proxy.

Mass surveillance programs:

The 2013 Snowden leaks revealed the existence of extensive surveillance programs like PRISM, run by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), with the cooperation of other Five Eyes members. These programs collect data directly from major technology and social media companies, including Facebook.

Data collection:

Using systems like XKEYSCORE, which has sites in Five Eyes countries, intelligence agencies index and collect a wide variety of online data.

This includes:

Social media entries

Emails and internet searches

Webmail and chat usernames

Metadata from web browsing sessions

Intelligence activities on social media

Besides automated mass collection, intelligence agencies also engage in targeted social media activities:

Counterintelligence:

Agencies like the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issue warnings about foreign intelligence services, including from nations outside the Five Eyes, that use social media to target individuals with security clearances.

Recruitment:

Foreign intelligence services, including those in Five Eyes countries, have been found to use social media sites to target people with access to classified information through fake profiles and job offers.

Public engagement:

In an effort to shape public perception, agencies like the UK's MI5 have established a public presence on social media platforms like Instagram.

Privacy concerns and consequences

Eroding privacy and accountability:

The alliance's extensive data collection has raised significant concerns among civil liberties and privacy groups, who argue it infringes on privacy rights and lacks transparency and accountability. The outsourcing of surveillance to private corporations also raises questions about delegating governmental functions.

Legal challenges:

The legality of this mass surveillance is often questioned, with critics arguing that the Five Eyes' secrecy allows for arbitrary and unlawful intrusions on privacy that circumvent domestic laws. Some legal experts contend that mass surveillance, as detailed in the Snowden documents, is contrary to international law.

Calls for access to encrypted data:

Five Eyes partners have pressured technology companies to provide access to encrypted data to combat serious online crime, a move civil liberties groups warn could erode privacy protections.