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.

Comments

Re:Not illegal

[Maelwryth]

I am unsure of the specific laws that would pertain to irrelevance of trial in the US but there is a broad precedent that information gathered illegally cannot be used. This can be overridden but it isn't a bad starting point. Possibly more relevant would be that he can't be extradited due to evidence obtained illegally in NZ. To quote the NZ extradition treaty with the US.

"Evidence on behalf of person whose surrender is sought regarding restrictions on surrender

(1) In any proceedings under this Act, a Judge or court may receive evidence tendered by or on behalf of a person whose surrender is sought that is relevant to the restrictions on surrender in sections 7 and 8 if the Judge or court considers the evidence is reliable, whether or not the evidence is otherwise admissible in a court of law.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to evidence gathered in New Zealand."

wish I had the NSA's resources

[OrangeTide]

Someone stole my bike. But since I'm not a billion dollar corporation I don't get to have several government agencies at my disposal for pursuing what amount to a civil case.

I assure you the I am hurt more for not having a bicycle than a movie studio is when someone pirates a film.