14 May 2015

GCSB spying method prohibited by American law makers

New Zealand needs to move towards greater privacy, in line with global trends, in light of the vote today by the United States House of Representatives to overwhelmingly prohibit bulk metadata collection by the National Security Agency (NSA), said the Green Party today.

Documents, leaked by Edward Snowden, showed that the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) undertakes spying similar to that undertaken by the NSA. However, last week American courts ruled the systematic collection of the American public’s phone communication by the NSA to be illegal, and this has been reaffirmed by the vote in the national legislature today.

“New Zealanders have the right to expect as much privacy as the Americans and Europeans have been granted,” said Green Party security and intelligence spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham.

“American and European law-makers have acted to protect the privacy of their citizens by making new laws to restrict the collection of metadata, but John Key has done nothing and won’t even say if he collects metadata on New Zealanders.

“New Zealanders have a right to expect that the forthcoming review of our intelligence and security will bring New Zealand law into line with comparable jurisdictions within the Five Eyes where it has been clearly indicated that mass collection on one’s own citizens is illegal and unacceptable.

“New Zealand has a chance to get it right and expect the Government's intelligence activity to be consistent with our civil liberties.

“While we welcome the review and we respect those appointed to undertake it, it will be of critical importance that they transcend any past or present political affiliations they may have or have had.

“With due respect to those involved, the review would be enhanced by the engagement of those with acknowledged independence and expertise in the area,” said Dr Graham.

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