New Zealand changes the law to allow intelligence agencies to gather personal data
The Parliament of New Zealand's has passed new legislation by only two votes which compels telecommunication companies to allow Government intelligence agencies to access customers' emails, texts and phone calls.
'The price for membership of the Five Eyes network'
New Zealand’s new Telecommunications Interceptions and Security Capability bill obliges firms to consult with the Government’s spy agency, the Government Communications Security Bureau, to allow interception equipment to be installed on their networks.
Green party co-leader, Russel Norman said the new law was “the price for membership of the Five Eyes network," the USA, UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand data pact alliance.
“What is being becoming clear globally is that it appears that [GCSB] is being used to do things that New Zealanders would not be comfortable with,” said Grant Robertson, opposition Labour spokesman on security and intelligence.
The law was passed by 61 votes to 59.
Spying image via Shutterstock