I have noted in sending and receiving test messages certain words and phrases - even seemingly harmless ones - hold up the message or even prevent it arriving. There must be a sort of filter to sniff out potential threats, but it has held up some important text messages.

Some words that have delayed messages: Shard, London, hot, his is (contains 'ISIS'). The word 'peril' prevented a message arriving altogether for three days.

So is there a fill list of phrases and words so I can avoid them (and get my text messages delivered ASAP)?

Unlike many I send quite informative messages, not just things like 'huggy huggy drinky winky ltr xxx' so probably that is flagging me up straight away as a renegade!

Everyone else's texts seem to get through ok immediately. Perhaps the authorities have a reason to take a special interest in you and hold yours for review???

No, not just me - these words hold up other peoples texts to each other. What I want to know is is there a public list of 'flagged' phrases and words. If not then fair enough, but I don't think much of having all messages checked. Its hardly private is it?

I've only got my work government phone on me so I won't try it on that but it does seem a bit strange. I would say be wary because Correlation isn't always Causation. That being said we are all probably being monitored anyway.

I'm going to do a test. I have an Orange SIM here I have only ever used for calls and has 25 pence only left on it. Before I throw it in the bin I will send this text:

In London now at the Shard seriously hot this is here today. Visit at your peril - you will melt as the streets are burning hot.

I'll report back.

I kind of want to test this, but I don't want to get myself "flagged" haha. Although as above we're probably all being monitored anyway, sure this has been mentioned before and texts are flagged for certain words but not sure how true this is

The above text has not arrived and the SIM is now in the bin. I tested the flagged word theory a week ago by sending a really silly message and then the missing one twice more. The silly one arrived instantly and all three of the other AWOL SMS's arrived about 15 hours later - all in one go. They were all held somewhere.

Interesting.... Wouldn't be surprised if there were certain words that were flagged mind.

I tried sending the above text to myself and nothing came through, but a few cars have since parked up outside my house, and there seems to someone on the roof over the road pointing something at my window.

I assume they're all here to fix my local cellsite and the guy on the roof has a new antenna or something, although I am not sure why they're all wearing suits.

I also tried sending it to myself and it never came through.

We've all just flagged ourselves as Persons of Interest haven't we...

I'm sure GCHQ will quickly scan my other texts and quickly establish I'm not that interesting...

Yeh ok...

But what I wrote has absolutely no terrorist connotations at all - yet it still gets blocked. Trouble is that it's only after not getting any reply that I must start going over what I sent with a fine toothed comb.

This thread has got to be a wind-up.

I think it's safe to say that if there were such a list, the security services probably wouldn't make it public...

I wonder if this thread is now being scanned by GCHQ?
: )

Shiny hats on everyone

Grey squirrel flies tonight

My food was delayed at the restaurant yesterday must have been GCHQ, checking in case i ordered something dodgy.

Words do not delay texts. I do not want to go into the specifics but non post move along.

Theres a system in place called ECHELON that scans all communications, although you shoudnt notice any delay if your text/email/internet posting contains any of the hot words, or could be deemed suspicious.

From what I understand its mostly an automated system that spits out some data for manual checking/investigation.
Its probably better that people/you dont try and trip the system on purpose as amongst other things:
Its a waste of stretched resources
its a waste of (your/our tax) money
Some poor sod will/may/could have to look through all your inane witterings
If you tie up limited resources with junk, then real issues/threats could be missed

Thanks - so there is some filter in place. Now knowing that I'll be more careful what I say.

If they delayed text messages for words like London, hot and Shard (which remember, is a word as well as the name of a building) then the whole system would be overwhelmed almost immediately. It would defeat the purpose of even having any kind of monitoring system.

EDIT: I can't believe I went through the hassle of this, but I just switched off wifi and mobile data (so I wouldn't end up sending an iMessage) and then sent your sample text to my wife. It was delivered instantly.

Also, remember when you hear that clicking sound while in a call it is someone listening in on your call, well that's what some bloke down the pub told me in 1989 and he knew a bloke that worked for BT (in their canteen) so he'd certainly know.

I just sent some texts with some pretty ridiculous words in and they all arrived instantly. If there's a watchlist, my EE sim is now on it, but the texts are delivered on time!

Surely if a message or person is flagged of interest, the last thing the authorities would want to do is block it and make them aware of the fact that they are probably being monitored?

Anyway I thought any really dodgy stuff is done with disposable PAYG SIMS and cheapo throw away phones?