So the Prime Minister's answer to the GCSB (Government Communications Security Bureau) spying illegally on New Zealanders and residents is to rush through legislation allowing the GCSB to do just that. And the reason we need this is that overseas baddies want to use Kiwi technology for weapons of mass destruction, but we can't see the evidence, because it is secret. Will the Prime Minister please advise how many of the 88 New Zealanders illegally spied upon were providing Kiwi technology to people trying to build weapons of mass destruction? I think Mr Key is very adept at employing his own devices of mass distraction.
Sweeping GCSB changes announced 15/4/13
Prime Minister John Key has announced sweeping changes to the powers of the Government Communications Security Bureau.
Key said failure to do so would leave New Zealand's national security open to threat.
"As prime minister I am simply not willing to do that. To do nothing would be an easy course of action politically, but it would be an irresponsible one."
The changes would allow the GCSB to provide information assurance and cyber security advice and help to both public and private sector organisations, and allow it to assist other entities such as the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, New Zealand Defence Force and Police while retaining its foreign intelligence gathering powers "broadly as is".
The change follows a top level report revealing widespread problems within the bureau and more than 80 cases where it may have spied on New Zealanders illegally.
The potential illegality was uncovered in the wake of revelations the GCSB spied on German internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom illegally, apparently under the mistaken belief he was not a New Zealand citizen or resident.
A 2003 law change explicitly barred the GCSB from spying on Kiwis.
Key said the cases of potential illegality involved the GCSB assisting police and the Security Intelligence Service acting under warrants. It believed the law allowed it to do so.
But the legality of that has now been called into question.
The terrorism threat in New Zealand is low but people have tried to use our technology to build weapons of mass destruction, Key said.
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- © Fairfax NZ News
Spy agency could have illegally spied on dozens of Kiwis
Published: 6:27PM Tuesday April 09, 2013 Source: ONE News
A critical report into the Government's spy agency has been released this afternoon.
The top secret review, by senior public servant Rebecca Kitteridge, into the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) , which was leaked to media yesterday, has been officially made public this afternoon.
Kitteridge's 71-page report, which was ordered after the illegal raid on Kim Dotcom's Coatesville mansion, reveals a series of failings within the bureau's management and culture.
Related
It shows that at least 88 people may have been illegally spied on between April 2003 and September last year on behalf of domestic spy agency, the Security Intelligence Service (SIS).
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