Orwell w realu, czyli o systemie Echelon z perspektywy polskiego prawa

„Freedom and privacy ofcommunication is guaranteed. The restrictions may be imposed only in cases specified in the Act and in the manner specified therein.” This pronounced and clear declaration, being not only a legal guarantee is included in paragraph 49 of Constitution of the Republic of Poland. We look at it from the hindsight, which was created by a system of global invigilation of communication, not only electronic one, called Echelon. It was widely known before Edward Snowden was heard in Hong Kong. Echelon was talked, written about and discussed not only in European Parliament but also at other formal forum. Yet, in our country this phenomenon did not arouse much interest either of lawyers, ministers, senators, government or politicians. There is probably the first attempt of assessing the consequences of Echelon from the view of Polish law. We limit ourselves intentionally to the point which was reachable for everyone before Snowden. We believe that it has a particular meaning: it illustrates that in our country there is a dramatic implementation of the constitutional right to democratic rule of law. It makes us realize where we live and what we can