Adams reassurances on TICs bill ring hollow

“The Government is trying to pull the wool over Kiwi’s eyes regarding the expanded powers of the GCSB,” Labour’s associate spokesperson for communications and IT Clare Curran said today.

“Claims by Communications Minister Amy Adams that the Government’s second spy bill (the Telecommunications Interception Capability and Security Bill or TICs) does not change definitions to capture a wide range of ICT organisations, doesn’t expand the Bureau’s powers and is simply updating the rules of surveillance, are nonsense and disingenuous.

“This is particular galling given revelations the secretive American National Security Agency (NSA) was bugging German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone for years.

“John Key says he hasn’t bothered to ask the US whether it’s been spying on citizens or politicians phone calls and emails. Jonathan Coleman says New Zealand’s not worried and that there’s nothing to hear in our conversations.

“The contradictory stance from this Government is breath-taking. On the one hand we have a Prime Minister who’s comfortable with existing arrangements. But at the same time there is apparently a need to ramp up New Zealand laws to protect Kiwis from increased threats the Government refuses to spell out.

“The Government is not being honest with New Zealanders. The public interest has now overwhelmed the practise of refusing to comment on such matters of national security.

“The TICs Bill has been vigorously fought by Labour. It is bad law which will have a chilling effect on New Zealand industry and infringes on the privacy of citizens and businesses. Labour will repeal this law and the recently passed GCSB legislation.

“But first, we will undertake a thorough and independent inquiry into our surveillance agencies, in particular the GCSB,” Clare Curran said .

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