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New Zealand Parliament Votes To Extend Spying Powers

Posted by Unknown on from the not-used-for-spying-pinky-swear dept.

pinkstuff writes "Amid protests and much opposition New Zealand parliament has just passed a bill which allows the The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) greater spying powers."

12 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. Keeping up with the Joneses by LordLucless · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obviously post-Snowden, they realise how much they need to catch up to the American standard.

    --
    Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
    1. Re:Keeping up with the Joneses by pinkstuff · · Score: 4, Interesting

      It is actually the American standard... The NSA is likely subsidising the GCSB

  2. Codename? by gmuslera · · Score: 5, Funny

    US have a lot of names for their surveillance programs, which one will be the one from New Zealand? The Eye of Sauron?

  3. Public opinion doesn't matter by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For a long time, governments of modern democracies have been rather afraid of public opinion and the press, and have avoided doing things that would result in protests and opposition.

    Then at some point they realized they could bribe the press, and that the public's opinion doesn't really matter, nor does it amount to much or lead to much violence in a society of over-fed TV addicts. Today's protesters are all bark and no bite, and the powers-that-be know it full well. So they do whatever the fuck they want without even trying to be discreet about it.

    That's where we're at right now. Welcome to a new form of tyranny, in which dictators are "democrats" who resort on soothing words and the complicity of mass-media to pussify the populace and keep it in check. Violence and outright dictatorship is so yesteryear...

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
    1. Re:Public opinion doesn't matter by GameboyRMH · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I wonder if it had something to do with better security at public events and better investigative techniques. As recently as around WW1 it was common for unpopular politicians to be assassinated and the killer could get away with it without too much trouble. Over time it became harder to kill politicians and get away with it, until we're in today's situation where there are anti-sniper teams around these appearances, the buildings the politicians reside in are armored and it's practically impossible. They're safer from the angry masses than the 1700s French aristocracy could have ever dreamed of. They have nothing to fear.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  4. Re:First world problems. by Kell+Bengal · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The real question is what are we going to do about it? I'm getting increasingly interested in the political process - I've written my MP and the opposite candidate about my views on these things. I've told them my vote is contingent on a roll-back on policies such as this (along with airport scanners).

    I'm starting with the soap box, and the ballot box will soon follow. We'll see how many boxes it takes until we see change. Part of the problem with the West is that we've lost the realisation that change is possible and is driven by public choice. We get the government we deserve, and I am damned well going to make my vote in September count.

    --
    Scientists point out problems, engineers fix them
    altslashdot.org: The future of slashdot.
  5. Re:A proposition... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First they came for Bradley Manning, and I said nothing because I am not in the army.
    Then they came for Julian Assange, and I said nothing because I am not a hacker.
    Then they came for Edward Snowden, and I said nothing because I am not a defence contractor.
    Then they came for the Guardian, and I said nothing because I am not in the media.

    Then they came for me. And there were no whistle blowers left to say anything.

  6. So much for retiring there by dywolf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    *removes New Zealand from Top 5 places I want to retire to*

    --
    The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
    1. Re:So much for retiring there by GameboyRMH · · Score: 4, Interesting

      He just values his privacy and liberty, quaint old concepts that had to be sacrificed for safety in our safer-than-ever world, I know.

      NZ is still in my top 5 list of desirable locations but it's been accelerating down for a while now.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  7. Re:Apparently they have a reason by VortexCortex · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So what. Fuck 'em. Life is a bit dangerous, time to accept that and stop pissing away rights and stop jumping at every shadow the government points at. The terrorists don't actually do much damage, just spread fear; Hence the name... You're far more likely to die in an auto accident or of heart disease... Where's all the fear of automobiles and fast food? War is what causes damage, that and all the stupid fear-mongering.

    Protip: There were no WMDs. The Red Scare was just fear. A Threat Narrative is what's used to manufacture consent, it doesn't have to be truthful, just scary. The governments and media are the biggest terrorist, depending on what word you use to mean "the spread of terror to achieve political goals". So, yeah, you can't turn on a TV without seeing a terrorist. Big Fucking Deal.

  8. It makes you wonder? by kurt555gs · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Who does all this spying serve? Really. Who?

    --
    * Carthago Delenda Est *
  9. Re:A proposition... by Safety+Cap · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So why were you endangering national security?

    Every time you use teh interwebs, you are endangering national security.

    Every time you leave the house, you are endangering national security.

    Every time you stay at home, you are endangering national security.

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    Consider that they are tracking everyone.

    Which means everyone is a suspect.

    And they wouldn't be suspects if they weren't guilty.

    ---

    Q. What do you call an innocent civilian?
    A. A criminal who hasn't broken the law yet.

    --
    Yeah, right.