• Home /
• Statewatch Database /
• The Kilowatt Network (1)

The Kilowatt Network (1)

01 January 1991

The Kilowatt Network
artdoc May=1991
Statewatch no.1 March/April 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 S?po", Lund (Sweden), Corona 1989, pp. 184-186.