Its time for our local authorities (and other bodies such as NZTA) to come clean, and confess whether they allow the SIS to access their camera networks in this way. That would allow the people to judge whether it is acceptable, and hold them accountable if they feel it necessary. But I suspect that that prospect is precisely why the SIS has kept this secret for so long.
John le Carré’s 26th book, Agent Running in the Field, which, according to the publishers is his take on Brexit, and suggests a dystopian future for European liberal democracies in a post-Brexit world. It follows John le Carré’s overarching theme – with friends like these, who needs enemies?
China has apparently been sprung hacking hundreds of western businesses and Government agencies, including some here in NZ. Should we be worried?
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.”
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.
Reports of an unconvincing “domestic terrorism” plot, and of further illegal GCSB spying.
When caught abusing new powers the response will be the same as when caught out abusing the old – meh, so sue us.
I/S at No Right Turn the “data supermarket” and privacy concerns. “The government wants to be able to effectively spy on and database everyone, so they can save a few dollars here and there.”
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.
A respectful open letter to Andrew Little with suggestions for how to win the next election!
Well who among us hasn’t forgotten a massive illegal domestic spying programme?
So great, now we’re trying to spy on China. What could possibly go wrong?
Check out the most recent Media Take (Tuesdays on Maori TV), on the GCSB and the consequences of our Pacific 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.
Press Release from the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security on Scoop.
Keith Locke has created a “Not in our name” petition.
Key’s attempt to play cute with the semantics of surveillance is part of an international strategy. Here’s Glenn Greenwald at The Intercept.
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?
The latest on the spying revelations as they emerge in The Herald. Apparently we’re spying on penguins now.
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?)
Fine work form David Fisher at The Herald. Does Key get to lie and deny his way through yet another crisis?
A long, fascinating piece by Glenn Greenwald on The Intercept this morning.
A guest post from BLiP on Labour’s support for the “terrorism” legislation.
I guess we can conclude that Key has something to hide, otherwise what could he possibly have to fear?
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.”
Got me smiling about no laughing matter!
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…
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.
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.
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.
An interesting article by lawyer Steven Price at Media Law Journal. Some extracts quoted, but well worth going and reading the full article.
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.
The positioning re Kim Dotcom’s “Moment of Truth” has started this morning.
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.
“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)
