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The Kilowatt Network

01 March 1991

An example of the secret cooperation of international security intelligence services is the large-scale exchange of data on international political violence. One of the organizational structures in which this takes place is the so-called Kilowatt group. This information alliance between the services of some 15 countries has been kept a virtual secret since it started in 1977. In 1982 its existence was revealed when Iranian students brought out materials found at the American embassy in Teheran in which it was mentioned. Even now few politicians have ever heard of it. Taking part in the Kilowatt network are the EC-countries and Canada Norway Sweden Switzerland plus the CIA and FBI the Israeli Mossad and Shin Beth. Turkey is said to be excluded because of its political unreliability. It is thought Israel plays a prominent role because of information exchange on the activities of Arab groups and individuals in Europe and the Middle East. Cooperation in the network is of great importance for the services of the smaller countries because the group gives out information without immediately demanding something in return. A condition is however that the terrorism department of any connected security service makes available any information it has on terrorists their movements and their treats to other Kilowatt members. This information has been taken primarily from a book by Swedish journalist Erik Magnusson, "Maktkamp om Sapo Lund", (Sweden), Corona 1989 pp. 184-186.