1945: Army launches Project SHAMROCK surveillance
In August 1945, the Army Signal Security Agency convinced ITT, RCA, and Western Union to extend wartime cable monitoring into Project SHAMROCK, targeting foreign and domestic traffic without warrants or oversight.
Background
Background
After the Second World War, the Army Signal Security Agency initiated the continuation of a secret programme for intercepting cable communications in August 1945. Companies such as ITT, RCA, and Western Union were persuaded to contribute their collection of international and domestic telegrams, now known as Project SHAMROCK.
Sequence of Events
The agency approached the companies immediately after the end of the war. ITT World International initially declined, but agreed after learning that the presidents of RCA Global and Western Union would cooperate if Attorney General Tom Clark confirmed the legality. The programme began without formal authorisation and ran for decades.
Witnesses and Evidence
No specific witnesses are named; internal army memoranda document the meetings and the companies' responses. Copies were transported daily by courier from New York to Fort Meade.
Significance
SHAMROCK (1945–1975) collected telegram traffic on a massive scale without court orders, kept secret from Congress and the President. It was revealed in 1975 by the Church Committee and led to reforms of oversight.