When the FBI Comes Calling…®

Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
(United Kingdom)

Founded:    1939

Mission:      Like the NSA in the United States, the GCHQ acts as the primary source of foreign TECHINT (namely SIGINT) operations for the british government. Operating satellites and other listening posts around the world, the GCHQ takes part in many SIGINT intelligence sharing agreements (like the UKUSA Accord of 1947)

Structure:    Located under the Foreign and Commonwealth office, the director of GCHQ is responsible both to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and ultimately to the Prime Minister.