NZ's cyber spies win new powers

NZ's cyber spies win new powers

This was on the front page of New Zealand's Sunday Star Times, one of the mainstream newspapers sold at the newsstand:

Article

It was the FBI that persuaded the New Zealand government to mandate that all communications, including phone calls, emails, texts, internet chatting, Facebook, shopping, etc. can all be spied upon with a single warrant that is easily obtained. Every communications company and ISP has had to install special equipment that allows all communications to be routed to surveillance agencies so they can review it within minutes after original transmission.

Obviously, if the U.S. is getting other countries to do this, they are already doing it within the U.S.

Read the story for more information.

reply to post by downisreallyup


It would be interesting to see if other countries are facing the same increase in cyber spying. I found it very interesting that this would be on the front page of a major NZ newspaper. I doubt it would appear on the front of a major US paper, but who knows.

reply to post by downisreallyup


Like it or not, policies made in Australia are often mirrored in N.Z. and vice versa.

If you're doing it there, we're likely doing it here and that bothers me.

I wonder just what would qualify for such a warrent?

Originally posted by OZtracized
reply to post by downisreallyup

 

Like it or not, policies made in Australia are often mirrored in N.Z. and vice versa.

If you're doing it there, we're likely doing it here and that bothers me.

I wonder just what would qualify for such a warrent?

Probably anything they want. And this really gets to the heart of the justified fear that this kind of thing can open up. Once this whole unified surveillance system is in place, they can always add more "questionable activities" to the list. That is why the government's assurance that this "gives no new powers" is really not that reassuring. The question is, how will the definition of cyber-crime and terrorism be expanded as time goes along. Perhaps everyone here on ATS would be classified as such, if not now, then at some point in the future.

Well...

...given theres been a big fat US Spybase sitting down in the South Island for over 20 years now...snatching all manner of things *out of thin air*...I'm not at all surprised by this.
After all - call me a paranoid cynic - but this to me is merely the 'official word' on what has been done for many many years already.

Originally posted by alien
Well...

...given theres been a big fat US Spybase sitting down in the South Island for over 20 years now...snatching all manner of things *out of thin air*...I'm not at all surprised by this.
After all - call me a paranoid cynic - but this to me is merely the 'official word' on what has been done for many many years already.

Not quite... the Echelon facility was part ONE. Now, for PART TWO, we have special equipment installed in all telecom companies and ISPs. This is definitely and advancement.

reply to post by downisreallyup


Very true.

What concerns me - again perhaps the *slightly paranoid cynic* part of me - is the advancement of it is now publicised.

Interesting development...which causes me to question WHY.

IMO: Again, from that slightly paranoid cynical side, I have serious doubts that what is publicised is the true extent, or perhaps more correctly the final extent/intention.

Publicism brings familiarity.

Oh certainly some will kick up a stink, some will challenge, some will soax-box long and loud about breach of privacy, human rights etc etc etc...

...as has been done so many times in the past...

However my concern is that in time the talk will stop, this too will become the accepted *norm* of our existance. This level of monitoring will become just an everyday thing and the greater majority of the populace will carry on about their day paying no mind to it at all.

This level then becomes the 'new playing field'.

Thin edge of the wedge as they say.

The next *move* is then somewhat easier as the accepted level has been established, the ground from which to push further is there.


...I personally feel that the *push* for the next level began waaay before this one was publicised.

So, be it Step One or Two or Three...sometimes Step Three or Four is already in progress when Step One or Two gets publicised.


...then again, I could well just be a paranoid cynic...time will tell...

Always great to see a fellow Kiwi on ATS by the way...


Peace.

Interesting... given that for me at any rate, the last week has been horrendous in terms of net speed, compared to 'normal' speeds before then... thought it was just my connection or the ISP doing maintenance, but I guess its all the prep work their doing this for thats possibly tanked my speed. Had various odd outages also, and sites that normally go briskly have been hanging noticeably.

Just hasnt been as crisp and responsive as normal... all that logging of links being clicked I guess

Probably just me being paranoid since Im a no body so they wouldnt want a warrant for me, but its an interesting coincidence. Would be excellent timing for them to start it since people would be less on the web than normal, since the weathers been great and it being Christmas time and all.

Given our archaic telecom infrastructure, id say any incorporation of stuff like this would have an impact on the whole system.

Gotta love em announcing it... AFTER its been done. Love how its the Americans wanting a standardized security system worldwide... why?, i guess so they can use it to spy on literally everyone worldwide, bound to be a exploitable backdoor built into to it for that very purpose.

[edit on 3-1-2010 by BigfootNZ]