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.

Comments

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.

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?