Slashdot Mirror
NSA Unlawfully Surveilled Kim Dotcom In New Zealand, Says Report (thehill.com)
According to new documents from New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), the NSA illegally used technology to spy on Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom. "The New Zealand Herald first reported that the GCSB told the nation's high court that it ceased all surveillance of Dotcom in early 2012, but that 'limited' amounts of communications from Dotcom were later intercepted by its technology without the bureau's knowledge," reports The Hill. From the report: Dotcom was surveilled by the NSA and the GCSB in a joint intelligence operation named Operation Debut. According to the Herald, that surveillance was scheduled to end in January 2012, but the United States continued to use New Zealand's technology. According to court documents obtained by the Herald, "Limited interception of some communications continued beyond the detasking date without the knowledge of GCSB staff." The court papers don't explain how the NSA was able to use the GCSB's spying technology without the bureau's knowledge. According to the Herald, "The GCSB documents do contain an admission of NSA involvement, although it was not made outright." Dotcom is facing charges of copyright infringement and money laundering related to Megaupload, a file-sharing website shut down in 2012. He is currently fighting U.S. attempts to extradite him from New Zealand.
It is (was now) illegal for NZ to spy on it's own citizens and the US was using NZ to do the dirty work. The GCSB said that they thought it was legal but then continued to spy on KDC for two months after they found out it was illegal.
I reserve the write to mangle english.
The Internet Party NZ will be drafting an Anti-Spy bill live online on Sunday the 6th of August with the help of international guests who are experts in the field of state and private intelligence gathering practices, violations and mass surveillance.
I reserve the write to mangle english.
Sure, Kim Dotcom is a dirtbag, but I don't understand why he's a target of the NSA.
1)
In the US, people who have lots of money can get the government to do their bidding. This is the basis of the lobbying industry, but it is certainly not limited to lobbying.
2)
The people behind the media industry have lots of money. They have for some time been freaking out that they are not getting more money as fast as they think they should be getting more money and they blame sharing, such as Kim Dotcom facilitated, for a great portion of their cash stream slowing.
3) The people behind the media industry will stop at nothing in their efforts to get more money or at least make sure no one gets anything for free.
Details like international borders don't matter to these people. They will do whatever it takes to make sure they get as much money in their pockets
as possible. And if that means using the NSA and subverting local or national laws, that's what they will do.
4)
Money and guns run the world. Rules and laws are for the peasants, not for the ruling class.
Any questions ?
What report?
No report in the Herald or other NZ publication would use the word "surveilled". They still speak English there.