Clare Curran
Communications and IT Spokesperson

1 August 2013

Minister has fingers in ears over telco spy law

Communications and IT Minister Amy Adams’ refusal to acknowledge industry and public concern about her telecommunication spy law demonstrates wilful ignorance, Labour’s Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran says.

There has not been one submission in support of her Telecommunications Interception Capability and Security Bill, Clare Curran says.

“She’s been told the industry thinks the Bill goes too far.

“But Amy Adams is following her Prime Minister’s lead by labelling all opposition as misinformed or politically aligned instead of listening to and engaging with the concerns of the industry.”

Prominent Wellington-based ICT software service company Catalyst today warned the Bill will have a chilling effect on overseas clients wanting to invest in services and infrastructure in New Zealand.

“Those warnings follow claims yesterday by tech giants Google and Microsoft that the TICS Bill will dramatically change their interception obligations to all providers that convey information from one device to another. That change is likely to bring significant costs to the industry.”

Amy Adams appears to be supporting the select committee’s decision to block the Government Communications and Security Bureau revealing why it needs its powers vastly widened, Clare Curran says.

“Condoning a process where legislators are expected to make decisions blindfolded without full information and ignoring public and industry concerns, demonstrates there was always another agenda behind this Bill.”

ENDS

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