Not sure if you're using sarcasm[1] or not, but Echelon is accepted fact and has been for many years.

The European Parliament held reports on the capabilities of Echelon. Industrial espionage has been linked to Echelon.

The purpose of Echelon (intercept communications data) is the stated purpose of GCHQ. Really, it's on their website and in their recruiting material. They monitor all communications, anywhere in the world, from DC to light.

Echelon isn't fantastic weird conspiracy theory.

[1] Sarcasm is not useful in text and it's especially not useful on a forum like HN, where there tends to be a higher number of users who are more literal than the regular population.