Headline: Spy crisis deepens: Key must front
National’s spy laws must be halted until it is determined whether the privacy of New Zealand citizens is being breached by the United States, with the blessing of John Key, Labour’s communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran said today.
“The Australian Government has announced an inquiry today into the privacy of its citizens in the digital environment amid growing community alarm about the revelations of a massive surveillance programme run by the US National Security Agency.
“John Key’s refusal to answer questions in Parliament today about the extent to which information from offshore intelligence partners has been used to spy on New Zealand residents and citizens is simply unacceptable.
“The UK, Canadian and Australian Governments are all under increasing pressure to come clean on the extent to which citizens’ electronic data, including emails, phone calls, texts and activity on social media is being collected, analysed and shared by the NSA programme.
“The surveillance programme almost certainly includes New Zealand emails and internet traffic. The Government must reveal its involvement in the scheme.
“There is growing alarm in the telecommunications and IT sectors and the wider community about the two new bills which will give the GCSB more powers.
“Those bills must now be put on hold and the Government must come clean on the extent of our involvement in the NSA surveillance system
“This is about the privacy of all New Zealanders and whether they are being routinely spied on,” said Clare Curran.
Spy crisis deepens: Key must front
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