GCSB & NZSIS warn ACT Bill risks NZ’s National Security
Judith Collins was briefed in March 2025 that David Seymour and Bryce Wilkinson’s proposal is incompatible with safeguarding the country from espionage, sabotage and terrorism.
GCSB
Pandemics and our privacy
The Ministry of Health is checking with the GCSB to enable full tracing of people to slow further outbreaks. Should we be afraid?
Did English break the law during Dotcom debacle?
David Fisher on the Dotcom spying debacle: “But the legal action which disclosed the extended spying also targets English specifically, saying he acted “unlawfully” when he signed a ministerial certificate intended to bury the spying operation forever.”
NRT: Spying for the whales
I/S at No Right Turn: “spies are corrosive of our values. Its one thing to spy in wartime, out of military necessity. Its quite another to do it in peace, on your friends, for self-advantage.
Be afraid!
Reports of an unconvincing “domestic terrorism” plot, and of further illegal GCSB spying.
Spy vs Us
Today National introduced a bill that will enable the NZ Government to spy on its citizens.
Another Key lie is why this government can’t be trusted with increased spying powers
When caught abusing new powers the response will be the same as when caught out abusing the old – meh, so sue us.
New report on GCSB spying powers
A Government-ordered review of NZ’s spy agencies has just been released. Key wants Labour’s support for increased power to spy on Kiwis.
CERT: the partial privatisation of the GCSB
A public private organisation with the acronym CERT was announced this week along with the new cyber security strategy. CERT’s role is to provide information to government so it can protect against cyber threats. Which is one of the roles of the GCSB.
CORTEX Trojan horse?
The government plans to roll out a new “cyber security action plan”. Given their record of secrecy, lies, and misuse of surveillance, I think we the people would be naive to believe this will be anything less than another escalation of the surveillance of New Zealanders.
Spy watchdog to investigate GCSB’s help for Groser’s campaign
Spy watchdog Cheryl Gwyn has announced an investigation into circumstances surrounding possible spying on our allies by the GCSB in support of Tim Groser’s tilt for the top WTO job.
GCSB and fabricating the ‘truth’
Someone is trying to fabricate the ‘truth’, but it isn’t Snowden and the people reporting him.
But they do it too …
With revelations that New Zealand has potentially been involved in the interception of Chinese diplomatic communications the questions arise did John Key know about it and did he authorise the activity.
Spying on China
So great, now we’re trying to spy on China. What could possibly go wrong?
Spying for torturers
The most disturbing allegations yet in the Snowden leaks on the activities of the GCSB.
Media Take – on GCSB and spying
Check out the most recent Media Take (Tuesdays on Maori TV), on the GCSB and the consequences of our Pacific spying.
Is GCSB using increased awareness of mass surveillance to justify mass surveillance?
Denis Tegg has persuaded the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security to inquire whether the GCSB is conducting mass surveillance on the Kafkaesque grounds that the legislation allows this to happen if a party ought reasonably to expect that the communication may be intercepted.
International reaction to our spying
How are other nations going to react to our spying on them? Key’s response when the question arose in Korea was very typical of him – bullshit and bluster. So far Brazil, Fiji, and Latin American countries have all proved him wrong.
IGIS to investigate GCSB Pacific spying
Press Release from the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security on Scoop.
GCSB spied on foreign communications to help Groser’s WTO bid
More embarrassment for the Government as it is revealed that the GCSB spied on internet communications involving diplomats competing with Tim Groser in his bid to be elected as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation.
Petition – Apology for spying
Keith Locke has created a “Not in our name” petition.
Surveillance newspeak
Key’s attempt to play cute with the semantics of surveillance is part of an international strategy. Here’s Glenn Greenwald at The Intercept.
Spying and the terrorism excuse
The next time that John Key says that we spy so as to keep NZ safe from terrorism, could some journalist please please ask him if the PM of the Solomon Islands is a terrorist?
Spying on penguins
The latest on the spying revelations as they emerge in The Herald. Apparently we’re spying on penguins now.
Key withdraws promise to resign
Hager: “The GCSB is not a New Zealand operation”
Selwyn Manning’s new EveningReport site got off to a massive start last night with a long, interesting interview with Nicky Hager. Take home quote (courtesy Russell Brown): “The GCSB is not a New Zealand operation, in any practical sense”. Watch the video…
The Ferguson interview
An extraordinary interview with former director of the GCSB Sir Bruce Ferguson on RNZ this morning. He confirms that NZ is conducing mass surveillance. (Any help with transcription?)
National Ltd™ Battling Truth On Two Fronts
The lies and media pap being distributed for public consumption by the boys down at “The Club” are old and worn out now. Politicians, public commentators, and media heads who really think they can get away with this flimsy “rinse and repeat” justification of the indefensible are treated us with contempt.
Is mass surveillance of Kiwis occurring?
The latest Snowden revelations that New Zealand has been collecting bulk data from various Pacific Islands and handing it to the NSA suggests that mass surveillance of New Zealanders is happening, despite promises to the contrary.
Key fails the leadership test
Fine work form David Fisher at The Herald. Does Key get to lie and deny his way through yet another crisis?
Labour’s Betrayal Continues
It might well be in Labour’s best interests to cut the crap now and go into coalition with the National Ltd™ Cult of John Key. It would be the honest thing to do. Kiwis will then know where the boundaries lie and who actually is working to oppose the implementation of the wider neo-liberal ideology.
NRT: GCHQ spies on journalists
I/S – “GCHQ considers investigative journalists a “security threat” alongside hackers and terrorists”…
NRT: Waihopaiology
Idiot Savant speculates on why GCSB Director Ian Fletcher is standing down so unexpectedly. Maybe another GCSB stuffup? Which of course someone has to fall on their sword for, but which must be kept secret for “security reasons” (aka “if the victims knew, they’d sue us and complain to the police”).
Free speech and surveillance online
A long, fascinating piece by Glenn Greenwald on The Intercept this morning.
New Zealand Betrayed – Again
A guest post from BLiP on Labour’s support for the “terrorism” legislation.
Nothing to hide nothing to fear?
I guess we can conclude that Key has something to hide, otherwise what could he possibly have to fear?