Media Release: Enough spying lies, John - resign now.
From: Organising Against State Intelligence and Surveillance (OASIS)
Date: 21 August 2013
“Instead of hearing of the GCSB bill being passed into law today, we would like to be accepting John Key’s resignation for the lies and obfuscations he has used to bolster his case for more spying,” said Anna Thorby on behalf of OASIS, “but sadly it will be like a lot of his other statements and reassurances that he makes in relation to state surveillance—meaningless hot air.”
This week John Key told reporters that he and his friend, Ian Fletcher, would resign if the GCSB undertook mass surveillance. But without missing a beat, he said that that would not happen as the only way it would be possible was if the GCSB were to undertake illegal activity.
“If John Key meant what he said, why didn't he resign when it became public knowledge that the GCSB had spied illegally on Dotcom, his family and his work associates? Instead his Deputy Bill English tried to cover up the entire thing. How is anyone to know if the GCSB is acting illegally since we cannot find out any meaningful information about the agency through the so-called ‘oversight.’ It was only the diligence of Dotcom’s lawyers and the insistence of the court that the GCSB’s criminal acts were exposed. The GCSB has undertaken illegal activities, and we have every reason to believe that they will continue to do so.”
Organising Against state intelligence and surveillance. We are a group formed after the NZ SIS Amendment Bill was announced. We aim to raise awareness around the issues of state surveillance.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Update: Reading of Bill delayed
Radio NZ reports that further debate about the GCSB Bill and the subsequent third reading has been delayed and probably won't happen until August 20.
At yesterday's debate, Peter Dunne was not waivering in his support for the Bill, still claiming that the Henry inquiry's spying on his and Andrea Vance's emails had nothing to do with state spying powers. He also continually claimed that his amendments to the Bill have addressed all the criticism that has come from the likes of the Law Society and others, and that there will be nothing to worry about once the changes have been adopted.
Also in yesterday's debate, the Attorney General Chris Finlayson claimed that the Law Society had no undertsanding of the law.
Hopefully this delay will give people more time to do some protesting...
At yesterday's debate, Peter Dunne was not waivering in his support for the Bill, still claiming that the Henry inquiry's spying on his and Andrea Vance's emails had nothing to do with state spying powers. He also continually claimed that his amendments to the Bill have addressed all the criticism that has come from the likes of the Law Society and others, and that there will be nothing to worry about once the changes have been adopted.
Also in yesterday's debate, the Attorney General Chris Finlayson claimed that the Law Society had no undertsanding of the law.
Hopefully this delay will give people more time to do some protesting...
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
GCSB Bill
Part One of the GCSB Bill was debated Tuesday and will continue this week.
Protests continue against the bill and include:
Protests continue against the bill and include:
Action: Wednesday 3pm, (07/08/13), outside GCSB HQ, Pipitea House, Wellington
Surveil the Surveillers - Unmask the Spies - come dressed in a trench coat, wear dark glasses, bring a surveillance camera, masks and a whistle or two.
Pipitea House houses an interesting group of people, including not only the GCSB but also the Department of Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), the National Assessments Bureau (NAB), the Combined Threat Assessment Group (CTAG) and the Security and Risk Group (SRG). CTAG includes representatives from the Police, the GCSB, the Security Intelligence Service (SIS), the New Zealand Defence Force, Maritime New Zealand and the New Zealand Customs Service.Action: Thursday (08/08/13) approximately 3pm, Parliament.
The Bill will probably be having its third and final reading. Attend Parliament, go to the Public Gallery - be a witness.And of course: contact MPs (National, John Banks and Peter Dunne) and urge them not to vote for the Bill.
GCSB BIll Being Debated Tues night
In a rushed move National is trying to push through the GCSB bill tonight, Tuesday 6th August. They are currently debating the bill. The public gallery is open or the debate can be listened to here: http://www.radionz.co.nz/parliament
or watched on Parliament TV.
or watched on Parliament TV.
Media coverage of yesterday's meeting
Radio NZ's report about the meeting last night can be found here.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Protest the GCSB
The GCSB Bill will have its third and final reading this week - probably on Thursday. Once that's done, it's basically law - it'll just be waiting for royal assent. But people are still fighting.
At Monday's public meeting in Wellington, the following activities were planned:
Organisers of the protest have spoken to Peter Dunne's neighbours, who say they are also against the new spying powers of the GCSB Bill."
At Monday's public meeting in Wellington, the following activities were planned:
Action: Tuesday 2pm, (06/08/13), at Peter Dunne's home: 31 Box Hill, Khandallah in the Ohariu Electorate.
Put Dunne's home under surveillance
"The vulnerability of the GCSB Bill will be tested tomorrow at a protest against Peter Dunne.Organisers of the protest have spoken to Peter Dunne's neighbours, who say they are also against the new spying powers of the GCSB Bill."
Action: Wednesday 3pm, (07/08/13), outside GCSB HQ, Pipitea House, Wellington
Surveil the Surveillers - Unmask the Spies - come dressed in a trench coat, wear dark glasses, bring a surveillance camera, masks and a whistle or two.
Pipitea House houses an interesting group of people, including not only the GCSB but also the Department of Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), the National Assessments Bureau (NAB), the Combined Threat Assessment Group (CTAG) and the Security and Risk Group (SRG). CTAG includes representatives from the Police, the GCSB, the Security Intelligence Service (SIS), the New Zealand Defence Force, Maritime New Zealand and the New Zealand Customs Service.Action: Thursday (08/08/13) approximately 3pm, Parliament.
The Bill will probably be having its third and final reading. Attend Parliament, go to the Public Gallery - be a witness.And of course: contact MPs (National, John Banks and Peter Dunne) and urge them not to vote for the Bill.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Nothing to hide - everything to fear
Public meeting: Looking at surveillance beyond the GCSB Bill
Nothing to Hide ... Everything to Fear is the title of a public meeting being hosted by OASIS. The GCSB Bill is just one of the latest in a line of law changes that are expanding and normalising state surveillance.
In recent years there have been many legal changes attacking our rights in the name of security, these include the Terrorism Suppression Act, Maritime Security Act, Border Security, Aviation Security Act, Telecommunications Interception Capability Act, the SIS Act, the Police Act, the Search and Surveillance Act and now back to round two of the GCSB Act and the Telecommunications Interception Capability Act.
All
these laws bring in more surveillance and in NZ that is primarily the
role of the police, the SIS and the GCSB. Over the years every one of
these state agencies has acted outside of their briefs. Every time
their illegal activities become public knowledge, there are changes
in the law to legalise their activities and / or to expand their
powers. What is happening with the GCSB Bill is a case in point.
It
is time to say enough is enough – for one of the greatest threats
to our security is actually ever-increasing invasion of our privacy.
Surveillance is the threat.
- Helen Kelly (CTU)
- Thomas Beagle (Tech Liberty)
- Kate Dewes (Peace Campaigner)
St John’s Hall, Willis St/Dixon St
Monday, July 22, 2013
Media Release: Business as usual for spooks
Organising Against State Intelligence
and Surveillance (OASIS)
“The links between the government and the private spying
industry are clear. Palantir, the main sponsor of the conference, is
advertising for engineers to be ‘embedded’ with the New Zealand
government. They are already supplying software for both the NSA and
the New Zealand army.
22 July 2013
The country’s top spooks will be
meeting in Wellington tomorrow (July 23) for the annual conference of
the NZ Institute of Intelligence Professionals (NZIIP).
Every day, more details about large
scale spying by the NSA, the GCHQ and other agencies is being
revealed.
“The spy industry seems to be
un-fazed by the Snowden leaks and is carrying on with business as
usual,” OASIS spokesperson Anna Thorby said.
“And why wouldn’t they? The NZ
government is giving them a clear message of more business to come by
pushing through a Bill that would legalise the GCSB’s spying on New
Zealanders.”
“SIS director Warren Tucker has been
the patron for the NZIIP since its start in 2008 and is about to
become a ‘fellow’ of the institute.”
At the institute’s inaugural meeting,
then prime minister Helen Clark gave a speech in which she indicated
that she already knew about the NSA and GCHQ’s blanket collection
of communication.
Clark said: “For some states […]
the protective imperative has led to the balance being struck in
favour of providing their intelligence organizations with access to
large data sets.”
The title of this year’s conference
is “Exploring Behavioural Drivers” and speakers will focus on how
to use those large data sets to predict people’s behaviour.
“While the state is saying that this
is used to detect terrorist plans, it can equally be used to suppress
any form of political dissent and to influence debate,” Ms Thorby
said.
“In the light of recent events
highlighting the exposure of both the NSA and GCSB’s illegal
surveillance, it should not be business as usual for the spies. There
should be no more strengthening of ties between the corporate and
state spies. Rather it is time to step back and re-evalaute the whole
UKUSA Agreement. NZ should pull out of it now.”
ENDS
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Nationwide protests against GCSB Bill
On Saturday, July 27 at 2pm there will be protests and demonstrations against the GCSB bill around the country.
The Wellington demo will start at the bucket fountain on Cuba Mall and go to parliament. Protests in other cities are:
Auckland: 2pm Aotea Square
Hamilton: 2pm Garden Place
Napier: 2pm Memorial Square
Nelson: 2pm Halifax Street
Christchurch: 2pm Bridge of Remembrance
Dunedin: 2pm Octagon
The protests are organised by a group called 'Stop the GCSB Bill'.
The Wellington demo will start at the bucket fountain on Cuba Mall and go to parliament. Protests in other cities are:
Auckland: 2pm Aotea Square
Hamilton: 2pm Garden Place
Napier: 2pm Memorial Square
Nelson: 2pm Halifax Street
Christchurch: 2pm Bridge of Remembrance
Dunedin: 2pm Octagon
The protests are organised by a group called 'Stop the GCSB Bill'.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Submissions on GCSB Bill
With the Security and Intelligence Committee dragging its heels over publishing the submissions on the GCSB Bill, Fairfax has put up a document with all 124 submisssions. Click here to read.
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