Ummmmm, let me get this straight. The GCSB has been ‘arguably’ spying on NZers for the last decade and while we are about to pass new laws legalizing the mass surveillance of the entire population, we now learn that on top of the echelon spy system, the GCSB has been testing out a new device for the NSA??????
US spy device ‘tested on NZ public’
A high-tech United States surveillance tool which sweeps up all communications without a warrant was sent to New Zealand for testing on the public, according to an espionage expert.
The tool was called ThinThread and it worked by automatically intercepting phone, email and internet information.
ThinThread was highly valued by those who created it because it could handle massive amounts of intercepted information. It then used snippets of data to automatically build a detailed picture of targets, their contacts and their habits for the spy organisation using it.
Those organisations were likely to include the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) after Washington, DC-based author Tim Shorrock revealed ThinThread was sent to New Zealand for testing in 2000-2001.
Mr Shorrock, who has written on intelligence issues for 35 years, said the revolutionary ThinThread surveillance tool was sent to New Zealand by the US National Security Agency.
…seeing as the new powers Key is pushing for the GCSB will allow private companies to access this data, should we be allowing military grade surveillance to be accessible to corporations via taxpayer funded state agencies?
We are delusional to sweep any of these legitimate concerns under the ‘if-you-have-nothing-to-hide-you-have-nothing-to-fear’ carpet.
