Making illegal spying legal

Yesterday, it was revealed that the GCSB (which is not supposed to spy on New Zealanders) has illegally spied on 88 people.

The government response when faced with something that is illegal is to make the illegal activity legal.

This has much in common with the actions of tyrants of the past (did you know Hitler was voted into power?). The destruction of democracy and the destruction of civil society does not happen overnight (as those who have studied history would know), but piecemeal, with actions like this.

It may seem extremely unlikely from the viewpoint of New Zealand in 2013, but these events have their own logic. Some time, some of us may find ourselves in protective but indefinite detention (as per the NDAA in the United States)

---Seemorerocks

The march of fascism

PM looks at GCSB law change

Radio NZ,

10 April, 2013

Prime Minister John Key is suggesting the Government Communications Security Bureau should be able to spy on New Zealanders if it has the right oversight.

The GCSB is prohibited by law from spying on New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

However a report released on Tuesday has found that 56 spying operations by the GCSB in the past nine years, involving 88 people, are legally questionable.

Mr Key has confirmed some of those people were New Zealanders or New Zealand residents and the Government will be looking at changing the law.

Asked if he thought the GCSB should be able to spy on New Zealanders, Mr Key said it should be able to provide agency support for the Security Intelligence Service under the right conditions and with the right oversight.

The review by Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Kitteridge was ordered after it was revealed that the surveillance of Mr Dotcom, an internet entrepreneur and German national with New Zealand residency, in January 2012 was illegal.

In 2003, a law change prohibited the GCSB from spying on New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

The report, released on Tuesday, finds that most of the problems stem from a misguided belief that when assisting domestic agencies that rule didn't apply.

Of the questionable operations, 55 involved assisting SIS and one involved the police.

Key knew of legal issues at GCSB in July

The Prime Minister has revealed he was told in July last year there could be legal problems with some of the activities of the GCSB.

Mr Key has always maintained he was first told last September about the bureau's illegal spying on Mr Dotcom.

He says at the July meeting he was not told about any legal issues concerning the internet entrepreneur.

But Labour Party leader David Shearer says it defies belief Mr Dotcom's name was not mentioned, given that case was the reason the legality of the GCSB's surveillance was being debated.

Mr Key says it was not raised with him because it was a GCSB-police issue, and the discussion was only about GCSB-Security Intelligence Service issues

....

The following is an interview with Paul Buchanan and Nicky Hager, the most authorititaive voices on security matters.

Nicky Hager is probably the best investigative journalist in New Zealand. Amongst other subjects he has covered is his exposure of the GCSB and its role in Echelon, the international spying ring through which the Anglophone countries spy on their European “allies”, amongst other things