Big Brother In New Zealand

Greybeaver writes: "News story (10 January 2001) about the future of privacy in New Zealand. Where it seems that today's news from tomorrow is that the honest citizen need not fear the government. But, of course, that only holds until they make it illegal. Here's the story." Lots of countries have passed new laws to deal with "computer" crimes. That's not really news. New Zealand's proposed law actually allows police to hack into your computer system remotely to look for evidence, which I think is unique.

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more info...

[mge]

Privacy Commissioner Bruce Slane has attacked aspects of proposed laws allowing state agencies to hack into private computers, saying the move would give authorities unprecedented powers to "snoop" into people's lives.

At I understand it, This guy's job is to make sure that this sort of stuff doesn't get passed into law without being publicised. Have a look at their site.

All software is flawed. All hardware is flawed. If you haven't learned that yet,

Re:Computer crimes are pointless

[Sabriel]

So the police presented you with an unsigned search warrant, claiming it gave them the right to enter and search your premises? Surely that in itself is illegal?

Re:Computer crimes are pointless

[Sabriel]

Might have commented a little too quickly - I guess it might be to stop the generic possibility of revenge. On the other hand, I would hope that there'd be some mechanism by which legal action could be taken against judges who authorise specious warrants.

Not unique, already law in Australia

[foxed]

I'm sorry to say New Zealand is not unique. It's already law in Australia. In 1999, Australia's Parliament passed amendments to the legislation governing the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), giving them the right to use what was charmingly called "remote access"; in other words, to crack anyone's computer. The legislation is known as the "Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment Bill 1999" and you can download your own copy from http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/cgi-bin/download.pl?/s cale/data/comact/10/6073/

The U.S. is no better

[John Jorsett]

New Zealand's proposed law actually allows police to hack into your computer system remotely to look for evidence, which I think is unique.

Unfortunately, it isn't unique. Cops in the United States can do that and more. Take a look at this.

Creepy

[Karma Sink]

Associate Justice Minister Paul Swain, who is overseeing the law changes, has defended the proposals, saying law-abiding New Zealanders have nothing to fear.

Unless, of course, you're innocent when they get the warrant.

The thing that makes this law, and laws like it, so scary is the fact that there's nothing saying they can't just make up a reason to peg you, then search until they find something. Hell, they can put shit on your computer and dump the logs, if they have any skill. What's to say a government who wants to fuck a citizen over won't just telnet into someone's box, create a whole directory of Kiddie Porn, and smash the logs, then claim that he found it?

This is just one more reason for really good security. Who cares if Skript Kiddies can root your box. Watch out for Big Borther!

Re:Creepy

[QuantumG]

Judges know nothing about computers so if a police officer goes to get a search warrent and the judge says "what for?", all they have to say is "computer crime" and it will be awarded. So much for unauthorized search and seizure. Why not just make computer crime another one of those things where police can enter and search if they have probable cause, like drugs and firearms? Could it possibly be because no-one gives a rats about computer crime but they bitch and moan daily about drugs and firearms?

NZ Police

[kiwicool2]

Coming from new zealand I doubt even if the police could hack into your computer, that they would be able to.
Our Police force can barely afford computers, let alone use them to fight crime

Computer crimes are pointless

[QuantumG]

Seriously, computer crimes should be eliminated. Why? Because the general public dont consider it a real crime. This is reflected in the sentences passed down by judges. Guess how many people have ever faced jail terms for computer crimes in Australia. One, and it was more about the credit cards that the guy stole and made public than the actual intrusion. Investigating computer crimes costs a fortune, takes years, invades privacy and puts an unjust burden on seemingly uninvolved members of society. I had my house raided and my computer taken off me for 8 months because a guy I had talked to on irc was being investigated for hacking. He had logs on his computer of him talking to me on irc that were not incriminating so the AFP figured if they took my computer they might find irc logs that were incriminating. During this time they tapped my phone because they had found my phone number on his computer. He had gone to a lot of trouble to get my phone number (I didn't want to give it to him) so they figured it must be important. The judge who issued the search warrant to my house could not be held accountable because the copy of the search warrant they gave me wasn't even signed by him (for his protection).

Re:Computer crimes are pointless

[QuantumG]

There isn't. It is specifically to stop public outcry at specific judges. Judges in Australia are not liable for their actions. In the end it was enough that they gave me the agent's name. I called him every day until I got them computers back. One day he went home from work early after refusing to speak with me so I looked him up in and phone book and called him at home. It was only three years ago but these days I would probably get hit with an invasion of privacy charge for using the phone book.