Posts Tagged ‘GCSB’

Five Eyes, One Network

Written By: - Date published: 12:32 pm, March 12th, 2014 - 60 comments

Edward Snowden revelations indicate that the US NSA pressured the NZ government to make last year’s hasty changes to the GCSB and TICS laws, to enable mass surveillance.  John Key sometimes denies he knows of visits to NZ by the NSA’s Gen Keith Alexander – but Key would have to approve the visits.

NRT: Did the NSA write John Key’s spy bill?

Written By: - Date published: 1:20 pm, March 11th, 2014 - 16 comments

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden gave evidence to the European Parliament last week about the NSA and mass-surveillance. The most interesting revelation? The NSA’s use of lawyers to subvert other countries limits on surveillance – including our own. So what did GCSB receive “legal guidance” on? What about the careful loopholes in the new Act

NRT: So much for Parliamentary oversight

Written By: - Date published: 1:23 pm, February 24th, 2014 - 13 comments

When Parliament in its select committee oversight role asks the GCSB about whether it is obeying the Public Finance Act, or whether it has formal NSA moles in its organisation, then suddenly its an “operational matter” which they can’t answer. The natural conclusion: they do and there are – because if either allegation was false, they’d just deny it. Looks like John Key’s assurances about greater parliamentary oversight over the GCSB are a lie.

The GCSB can’t count

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, February 21st, 2014 - 31 comments

The GCSB has eroded public confidence in its performance by displaying a concerning inability to count beyond four …

NRT: The NSA spies on its own government

Written By: - Date published: 11:11 am, January 8th, 2014 - 51 comments

Since Edward Snowden leaked proof of widespread NSA spying on US citizens, people have been wondering who exactly they’re spying on. Are they spying on their own government? Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders wanted to know, so he asked them directly. The response was not reassuring.

Perhaps the same question should be put to the GCSB? After all its oversight seems even more incompetent and incestuous than that of the NSA.

GCSB: They do listen

Written By: - Date published: 5:40 am, January 4th, 2014 - 36 comments

It has been a surprise at just how far the revelations about the GCSB governance have made into the collective conciousness of NZ. Bearing in mind the continuing outpouring from Snowden and other whistleblowers about the US and their allies surveillance efforts on citizens and friendly states, it isn’t going to be a surprise if this winds up being an issue in the election.

Discourage the pantie sniffers

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 pm, October 13th, 2013 - 30 comments

It isn’t that hard to get around the prurient arsehole peekers that populate the NSA and the kiwi puppets – John Key being a prime example. Encrypt, falsify your “metadata”, and send lots of crap purely so they have no idea what to look at. Hell – even the NZ Herald gets it these days as in an anonymously published article in the weekend rag…

Rob Gilchrist on Sunday

Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, October 6th, 2013 - 28 comments

The Sunday programme this evening has Rob Gilchrist, police spy and provocateur, breaking his silence about the decade he spent amongst mostly peaceful activists. He was one amongst the very many sworn officers and informants that the police, spy agencies, and their civilian detective agencies use to monitor and often to disrupt democratic change. At […]

NRT: Laws are for little people – again

Written By: - Date published: 4:53 pm, August 29th, 2013 - 22 comments

No Right Turn looks at the police decision on the unlawful GCSB interceptions of DotCom’s communications. Of course getting the police to investigate their own requests for the GCSB to perform an unlawful activity is like putting a stoat in charge of kiwi chicks. Perhaps a private prosecution of the GCSB and the police would be a more productive.

GCSB & TICS

Written By: - Date published: 7:13 am, August 23rd, 2013 - 52 comments

There will be plenty of coverage of the Labour leadership process here on The Standard, I don’t feel any need to contribute. There are too many other important matters that mustn’t fall under the radar. You thought the GCSB spying Bill was bad? The TICS bill is worse.

Disgusting

Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, August 22nd, 2013 - 110 comments

Chris Finalyson’s contribution to the GCSB debate yesterday was a strong reminder that the job description for National MPs includes a requirement that they be rude and arrogant and a belief that they are somehow superior to the rest of us.Chris Finlayson

Hypocrite

Written By: - Date published: 8:47 am, August 22nd, 2013 - 19 comments

“New Zealanders will not have
confidence in [a …] bill rammed through
by a slender majority without public support
and with the backing of only the bare minimum
of parties necessary to get it through Parliament.”
John Key, 2007.
 
(ht Toby Manhire)

Shame!

Written By: - Date published: 7:45 pm, August 21st, 2013 - 136 comments

So the Key-Dunne spying Bill is now law. The privacy of your electronic communications now depends on the favour of an untrustworthy PM, and the best efforts of a legal system (much derided by said PM) in interpreting a confused mess of a law / Hansard record / letter to The Herald.

Shame shame shame on all those MPs who ignored the concerns of the people who elected them and passed this travesty.

If lawyers don’t understand the law…

Written By: - Date published: 12:59 pm, August 21st, 2013 - 32 comments

Then it’s a bad law. Who does John Key think is going to interpret the GCSB law other than lawyers from the Law Commission, the Human Rights Tribunal, the Privacy Commissioner etc?

Bad law making – GCSB Bill

Written By: - Date published: 12:10 pm, August 21st, 2013 - 29 comments

Grant Robertson & David Cunliffe explain how the GCSB Bill is bad law (especially section 8 & related sections). It doesn’t provide adequate oversight or safeguards against the wholesale spying on New Zealanders. A clarifying statement from the PM is not good law. Andrea Vance demystifies the Bill.

RIP Groklaw

Written By: - Date published: 11:52 am, August 21st, 2013 - 28 comments

Groklaw has been an inspirational blog for many with an interest in geekery or the law. I read it daily during the years of the SCO trial. PJ and her team were and are amazing. But now it’s over. Killed by the death of privacy, and the world that the Key-Dunne spying bill is bringing ever closer to NZ.

When fear tactics backfire 2 – and GCSB roundup

Written By: - Date published: 8:20 am, August 21st, 2013 - 46 comments

John Key (the PM who has on multiple occasions overspent the budget on his own protection staff) really dug himself a hole when he accused opposition leaders of wanting to “run for the hills” in case of a terrorist attack. Not only did David Shearer get to remind him of the occasions that he has been under fire – and run to help – but now some other voices have chimed in too.

Cross the floor

Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, August 21st, 2013 - 29 comments

Check out crossthefloor.co.nz (#crossthefloor) for a resource to send email or tweets to a shortlist of government MPS who just might discover their conscience, cross the floor, and kill the spying bill…

When fear tactics backfire

Written By: - Date published: 2:47 pm, August 20th, 2013 - 93 comments

John Key’s fear tactics backfired badly when he tried to smear David Shearer…

The voices of the GCSB protest

Written By: - Date published: 6:53 am, August 20th, 2013 - 66 comments

The Auckland Town Hall was full – nearly 2000 people – for the GCSB protest last night (with more people being turned away at the doors). Update – full video of the whole event (all speakers) is now up on YouTube. Meanwhile the Campbell Live poll had 89% of respondents opposed.

Be there – tonight

Written By: - Date published: 2:47 pm, August 19th, 2013 - 94 comments

Final reminder of the pro-privacy anti-spying meeting tonight. Also worth noting in this context is Alastair Thompson’s excellent open letter to Peter Dunne. Read it. Will Dunne be a hero?

Plans to “wiretap” the net

Written By: - Date published: 10:11 am, August 19th, 2013 - 17 comments

The second of the weekend’s must-read pieces.  This one is by Vikram Kumar (CEO of Mega) published in the NBR, on plans to require internet service providers to install a “backdoor for the government”.

Be there

Written By: - Date published: 9:32 am, August 17th, 2013 - 17 comments

gcsb-poster2

Not how a democracy works

Written By: - Date published: 9:56 am, August 16th, 2013 - 34 comments

Key and his cronies have a long history of passing laws that give themselves sweeping powers and promising (honestly, truly) that they won’t use them. How many times has King Brownlee found himself in court for abusing his dictatorial powers, despite the ouster clauses in his enabling Act? Now, Key, says he won’t actually use the powers he’s getting the the GCSB Bill.

John Key – GCSB fool (or liar)

Written By: - Date published: 7:28 am, August 16th, 2013 - 142 comments

On Campbell Live, and on other occasions, John Key has claimed that critics of the GCSB spying bill were all wrong. The Human Rights Commission – wrong. The Law Society – wrong. The Privacy Commissioner – wrong. Dame Anne Salmond – wrong. Everyone else wrong – only he – John Key – and his secret advisors were right, and we the sheeple have nothing to fear.

Now in a stunning embarrassment it is Key that has had to admit that he was wrong. Or a liar.

Tech Liberty on GCSB Bill

Written By: - Date published: 7:19 am, August 15th, 2013 - 8 comments

Thomas Beagle at Tech Liberty has done a great job at presenting the technicalities of the Key-Dunne GCSB spying bill – see for example: “Does the new GCSB Bill give them the power to spy on New Zealanders?”. (Spoiler Alert! The answer is Yes.)

GCSB protest fundraiser success – in one day!

Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, August 14th, 2013 - 13 comments

This Pledge Me fundraiser for protest action against the Key-Dunne GCSB spying Bill reached its target ($3,300) in just one day yesterday. It remains open for three more days – you can still donate to extend the range of the protest.

GCSB Bill vs snapper quota

Written By: - Date published: 11:57 am, August 13th, 2013 - 55 comments

gcsb-bill-snapper-quota

GCSB diversions and won’t anyone think of the kids?

Written By: - Date published: 9:26 am, August 13th, 2013 - 18 comments

John Key Nat Billboard Corproate voteWhen National is on the defensive it engages in acts of mass diversion.  So under further pressure about its GCSB reforms it plans an increase in Ministerial Inquiry powers that would have Andrea Vance worried, and it is proposing that people acquitted of offences involving children are nevertheless subject to draconian restrictions on their liberty.

John Key – in contempt

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 pm, August 12th, 2013 - 71 comments

John Key shows contempt for New Zealanders and democracy in refusing to talk about the GCSB Bill and saying New Zealanders care more about snapper quotas. Campbell Live discovers some Kiwis are well informed and have views on the GCSB Bill.

Selling your privacy

Written By: - Date published: 4:07 pm, August 12th, 2013 - 16 comments

Good piece by David Fisher on selling your privacy. Don’t worry citizens consumers, it’s nothing personal. It’s just business.

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  • A moment of friction.
    In strategic studies “friction” is a term that it is used to describe the moment when military action encounters adversary resistance. “Friction” is one of four (along with an unofficial fifth) “F’s” in military strategy, which includes force (kinetic mass), … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    3 weeks ago
  • Spotlight on the Courts
    Muriel Newman writes – “Houston, we have a problem!” New Zealand’s Supreme Court – the highest court in our land – has been captured by activist judges. What is heartening, is the emergence of a wide range of eminent legal voices all openly criticising the Court and calling ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 weeks ago
  • NZ Government announces ban on walking
    RNZ reports: As part of their ‘100 Day Plan – Phase 2’, the government today announced a ban on walking on streets and in most public spaces. Transport Minister Simeon Brown says the move is part of the Government’s plan to boost economic growth and productivity. “Walking is just too ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 weeks ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for March: Lamia (poem), by John Keats The Moon Pool, by Abraham Merritt A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking Inverted World, by Christopher Priest Fugue for a Darkening Island, by Christopher Priest The Secrets of Dr John Taverner (collection), by Dion Fortune St Benedict’s Rule ...
    3 weeks ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #13
    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 24, 2024 thru Sat, March 30, 2024. Story of the week When it comes to polar sea ice appearances can be deceptive, trends may be obvious ...
    3 weeks ago
  • Love is Love.
    There are three comedians I particularly like. One Scottish, one American, and one Australian. No walking into a bar in this joke, they’re all at various stage of alcoholism - funny how that works. They’re all liberal more than necessarily left - although the Scottish one is typically socialist. It’s ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 weeks ago
  • In journalism facts should be verifiable
    Fact-Checkers’ personal biases will often lead to presenting fake news as factual, or facts as fake news. Image credit:The Psychology of Fact-Checking.” I ...
    3 weeks ago
  • The Origins of Rage
    Hi,I dyed my hair pink* this week. If I was being pretentious I’d say it was an art project. I’d used a pink-hair filter on social media earlier this month, which had people evenly split between “Oh my God you dyed your hair!” to “That’s clearly a filter!”At some point ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 weeks ago
  • The Missing Body.
    And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. –  Matthew 27:2“THIS COURT OF INQUIRY will come to order!”The Presiding Officer surveyed the room. The tables arranged to form a hollow square. The soldiers in their dress uniforms. The evidence folders placed neatly ...
    3 weeks ago
  • National’s Governing For (Crony) Capitalists – Not Capitalism.
    Gimme, Gimme, Gimme! The late Bruce Jesson used to say that while National governed for capitalists, Labour governed for Capitalism. Jesson’s suggestion: that National was so firmly locked inside the individualist logic of the private sector that it struggled to see the broader capitalist picture; was a shrewd one.WHY IS THE ...
    3 weeks ago
  • Rapture and Rage.
    When Push Came To Shove: If Jacinda Ardern’s government struggled to contain 3,000 angry Kiwis in 2022, how will Christopher Luxon’s cope with 300,000 in 2025?THE OCCUPATION OF PARLIAMENT GROUNDS stands as one of the oddest moments in New Zealand political history. Not the least of its oddities was the mixture ...
    3 weeks ago
  • Things I’d have hoped we could all agree on
    Eric Crampton writes – This week’s Budget Policy Statement was disappointing. There are a few things I’d have thought we could all have agreed on. They seem pretty basic. If the Reserve Bank is still using monetary policy to push against inflation, fiscal stimulus is a pretty bad ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 weeks ago
  • Labour’s crime legacy of the last three years
    Michael Bassett writes – The Labour Government lost the 2023 election when its support halved from 2020. It deserved to lose on economic grounds alone. Covid lockdowns that went beyond the prudent and wrecked livelihoods in the name of saving lives; an orgy of careless spending of borrowed ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 weeks ago

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  • NZ announces humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Sudan
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced $6 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict in Gaza and Sudan during his ongoing visit to Egypt.   “There are huge and urgent humanitarian needs in both Gaza and Sudan, and it is important that New Zealand continues to make its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Jones backs super snapper for economic growth
    A new project to breed ‘super’ snapper that are more resistant to disease, grow faster, and can thrive in warmer water could help drive more economic growth through aquaculture, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.  “The potential here goes far beyond growing a better and more resilient breed of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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