August 2, 2017

Internet Party and special guests invite public to draft Anti-Spy Bill Live online

The Internet Party of New Zealand is inviting Kiwis to participate in a world-first online event to draft citizen-initiated legislation to counter government spying.

The event will be held online between 8pm and 11pm on Sunday the 6th of August, 2017.

Panelists will include surprise international guests who are experts in the field of state and private intelligence gathering practices, violations and mass surveillance.

Once finalised, the draft legislation will be submitted to human rights, privacy and political organisations and groups around the world, to lobby for its adoption.

Dubbed the 2017 #AntiSpyBill, the initiative seeks to undo some of the damage to democratic and human rights inflicted upon New Zealand by the GCSB, Countering Terrorist Fighters, and Intelligence and Security Bills of 2013, 2014 and 2016 respectively.

Internet Party Leader Suzie Dawson said "New Zealand spies and their international counterparts have engaged in some of the most egregious conduct imaginable. From illegally spying on their own citizens, to engaging with foreign powers to do the same, to reprehensible cases of undercover agents assuming false identities, entrapping activists and targeting unsuspecting women for sexual relationships. The laws passed under urgency in recent years have only furthered the sense of invulnerability of these spies. They also violate international law. We can no longer wait and hope for the government to right these wrongs. We must show that where our lawmakers fail to do so, the public are willing to step up and address these issues themselves."

There are one hundred first-in-first-served tickets to register for the webinar that grant direct access to panelists. It is possible to participate in the event without registering, as it will be simulcast live on the official Internet PartyFacebook page and You Tube channel.

Join the Internet Party to help #UpdateNZ - and the world!

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