Spying
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NRT: Just the beginning
Written By: - Date published: 2:26 pm, December 2nd, 2014 - 59 comments
I/S at No Right Turn on current and future spying legislation. “I will not vote for a party which supports spying. Neither should you.”
SISters are doin’ it for themselves
Written By: - Date published: 2:02 pm, December 1st, 2014 - 1 comment
Got me smiling about no laughing matter!
Submit today!
Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, November 27th, 2014 - 13 comments
I/S at No Right Turn yesterday: “Yes, that’s right. An important bill with major human rights implications, and we have one day to speak up about it.” I/S supplies a submission guide to make it easy…
Islamic Extremism: not a threat
Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, November 17th, 2014 - 112 comments
Not to NZ at any rate.
Reds under the beds
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, November 6th, 2014 - 82 comments
Governments have always used external threats (real or not) to expand their powers. Supposedly “small government” types seem the most keen to grab more powers, for some strange reason.
Turei for peace & freedom: rejects politics of fear
Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, November 5th, 2014 - 102 comments
Metiria Turei delivered a very strong speech in response to Key’s ministerial statement on national security. I give her a standing ovation! Update #1: link to video of Turei’s speech. #2 -YT video Turei’s speech. Link to Kennedy Garham’s speech
NRT: The GCSB has been using our embassies as spybases
Written By: - Date published: 12:26 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 25 comments
I/S at No Right Turn summarises a post from The Intercept on NSA keywords, and what they illustrate about the involvement of our GCSB.
Two tier strategy on spying
Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, October 7th, 2014 - 30 comments
Key ditching responsibility for the GCSB and SIS, and adopting the newly created title of Minister for National Security and Intelligence, is another example of the dirty politics two tier strategy.
The long reach of “5 Eyes”: re-post
Written By: - Date published: 11:52 am, October 6th, 2014 - 15 comments
With Chris Finlayson just announced as minister in charge of GCSB & SIS, I thought it appropriate to re-post something I published on The Standard back in July 2013: links 5 Eyes’ attorney generals, cyber-security, Dotcom, etc.
First they sold Auckland, then the rest of NZ…?
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, October 3rd, 2014 - 28 comments
A quiet shift in a dodgy Key govt-SkyCity deal: TVNZ land, sold to SkyCity for its convention centre, is to be used for a new hotel. Plus: non-mandated deal between Auckland Transport Authority & a US corporate – intense surveillance of Aucklanders’ diverse activities.
Surveillance in Australia
Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, September 28th, 2014 - 51 comments
Latest developments in Australia are relevant in the context of the recent focus on surveillance in NZ. What are the odds that the Nats will pass similar laws here during their current term?
My morning thoughts on the night before
Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, September 21st, 2014 - 34 comments
It will take a flax roots, bottom-up, community-based movement to rebuild democracy and a fair, caring and sustainable society.
Key’s last fig leaf
Written By: - Date published: 7:42 am, September 18th, 2014 - 32 comments
Key’s last fig leaf on GCSB surveillance is to plead ignorance. Unfortunately for him the evidence is compelling. If he does manage to lead the next government, these issues will continue to haunt him.
NRT: Key admits the GCSB has broken the law
Written By: - Date published: 4:45 pm, September 17th, 2014 - 17 comments
If the GCSB has access to XKEYSCORE, and XKEYSCORE has information on New Zealanders, then arguably they’ve intercepted it even if that information has been collected by another agency, as they have “acquired” it. And if they actually look at it, there’s no “arguable” about it.
The circle is complete
Written By: - Date published: 4:16 pm, September 17th, 2014 - 139 comments
From “There’s no ambiguity. No middle ground. I’m right. He’s wrong”
to
“[Snowden] may well be right” in just 4 days. Impressive.
Jackal: A conspiracy theory too far
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, September 17th, 2014 - 114 comments
Over the last month John Key has been displaying behaviour of being a raving right wing conspiracy theorist. Over the weekend megalomaniacal John Key even said that he wants the governor general to stage a coup to allow him to remain in power. The Jackal summarises recent nutty right wing conspiracy theories from the PM and others.
A Matter of Simple Logic
Written By: - Date published: 4:54 pm, September 16th, 2014 - 103 comments
One of the few journalists to do his job properly over the course of the dirty politics scandal has been Guyon Espiner. He has, without in any way breaching his duty of impartiality, seen it as his responsibility on Morning Report to put questions to, and demand answers of, the Prime Minister – and, when […]
Media roundup
Written By: - Date published: 7:42 am, September 16th, 2014 - 64 comments
NZ Media has got the message, leading with coverage of the Greenwald / Snowden evidence of mass surveillance of New Zealanders, and the surprise revelation of two US “spy bases” in NZ. Best coverage by Andrea Vance. Updated with a link to video of last night’s event.
A brilliant (if flawed) event – Key must resign
Written By: - Date published: 6:06 am, September 16th, 2014 - 71 comments
From Key we have changing stories, irrelevant distractions and refusal to comment. From Snowden we have compelling first person testimony and supporting documents (uncontested by any other Five Eyes leader). New Zealand is under mass surveillance.
John Key On Trial
Written By: - Date published: 4:35 pm, September 15th, 2014 - 27 comments
The latest instalment in the saga of John Key’s struggle to maintain his image as someone above suspicion has produced the amazing spectacle of a Prime Minister in free fall. Faced with the threatened revelation that he has been – not just economical with, but contemptuous of – the truth as to whether or not […]
Key changing his story (again)…
Written By: - Date published: 12:37 pm, September 15th, 2014 - 60 comments
Well well – Mr “No middle ground. I’m right. He’s wrong” is changing his story. He now admits that surveillance did go ahead…
The enablers
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, September 15th, 2014 - 14 comments
Under pressure from Glenn Greenwald’s revelations, John Key, using various smoke screens, is starting to reveal his complicity in working with the GCSB & its 5 Eyes partners, to extend the scope of their spying. Could the Southern Cross Cable Network not have known their systems had been tapped? Update: Statement by Southern Cross Cables
Key’s reputation and the law
Written By: - Date published: 12:01 pm, September 15th, 2014 - 26 comments
An interesting article by lawyer Steven Price at Media Law Journal. Some extracts quoted, but well worth going and reading the full article.
“Moment of Truth” – a key claim
Written By: - Date published: 7:14 am, September 15th, 2014 - 152 comments
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Glenn Greenwald is standing firm in the face of Key’s attacks and denials. A fascinating interview with Steve Braunias yesterday contains a key claim.
VRWC rises from the grave
Written By: - Date published: 8:35 pm, September 14th, 2014 - 29 comments
They’re at it again. David Farrar has a guest post from fellow VRWC member Charles Finny about FiveEyes, arguing that it’s kept us safe in foreign wars and Labour did it too. Which of course is not the point of the current debate about massive government surveillance of innocent citizens. Farrar then gets himself tangled in knots – if Dotcom is right Labour did it too – but he’s not of course says Farrar.
NRT: “National security” or “National’s security”?
Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, September 14th, 2014 - 35 comments
information is supposed to be classified only for valid reasons of national security. The information Key wants to release is likely classified SECRET or TOP SECRET. Its worth remembering that Key and his office are already under investigation by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security for politically-motivated declassification decisions.
“Moment of Truth” – Preview
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, September 14th, 2014 - 67 comments
The positioning re Kim Dotcom’s “Moment of Truth” has started this morning.
The extent of public interest hacking?
Written By: - Date published: 11:46 am, September 10th, 2014 - 35 comments
Last year, there was a major hack, in which data from some GCSB staff, parliamentary staff, police, & others were copied & stored in various places globally. Surveillance technologies can be used by both state agencies and its critics. Update: Some 2013 history & Anonymous
Why Is John Key Not Compelled to Give Evidence Under Oath?
Written By: - Date published: 12:13 pm, September 1st, 2014 - 75 comments
I have today sent an open letter to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security to ask why Mr Key is not required to attend her inquiry and to give evidence under oath. The letter is attached.
Shadow play: Key’s 2-track politics
Written By: - Date published: 11:31 am, August 16th, 2014 - 40 comments
Nicky Hager’s Dirty Politics tells of the “two track strategy” of John Key’s leadership of the National Party & the country: a smiley nice front, & vicious, covert black ops behind the scenes. Key has overseen one of the darkest, nastiest periods in NZ politics. Vote Left for necessary, democratic change, for people-centred governance.
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