A Government-ordered review (by Sir Michael Cullen and Dame Patsy Reddy) of NZ’s spy agencies has just been released:
GCSB may be given permission to spy on Kiwis’ private information
New Zealand’s foreign intelligence agency should be able to spy on Kiwis’ private communications, a wide-ranging intelligence and security review has recommended.
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The push to scrap the current restriction on the GCSB intercepting New Zealanders’ private communications will be controversial. Sir Michael told a press conference that such co-operation between the two intelligence agencies was the intent of the current law.A lack of clarity about what the law permits and recent high-profile controversies meant the GCSB had taken an overly conservative approach – which could lead valuable lines of investigation been dropped, and ultimately put New Zealanders’ safety at risk.
“We are not proposing a vast extension of power…it is a clarification…the Government is, in effect, is almost placed in a position of failing in its duty to protect the lives of New Zealanders, because the legislation is simply not clear enough,” Sir Michael said.
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Under the single piece of legislation proposed, all of the agencies’ activities would require some form of authorisation. A three-tiered system was recommended, with higher level of scrutiny for activity that is more intrusive or targets New Zealanders.
There is plenty of detail – well worth reading the piece in full. See also Stuff: Report on NZ’s spy agencies recommends more powers, greater oversight.
Key wants Labour’s support for the proposals.
The Greens are opposed.
Dim-Post points out that this confirms that Finlayson’s current laws are a mess.
NRT proposes scrapping the GCSB instead.
It seems that the Human Rights Commission has described the proposals as “well-judged and reflective of NZ’s democratic values”.
Labour is calling for a public debate.
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