back to article New Kiwi spook law allows domestic prying

New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), which illegally spied on resident Kim Dotcom, is on the cusp of gaining sweeping new powers that include wiretapping NZ citizens. The GCSB's domestic spying first came to light last year when it mistakenly tapped Dotcom's communications, not realising that his …

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  1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

    World breathes a sigh of relief

    Knowing that New Zealand radicalism is now being so effectively monitored

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Well, the sheep are probably feeling safer, anyway.

    1. Sir Runcible Spoon

      I'm assuming you are referring to the generally ignorant population of the country rather than the, well, you know, sheep?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        I'm assuming you don't know NewZealand's (likely undeserved, but funny anyway) reputation for relations with livestock.

        (Yes, I tried 6 ways to write that smartalec remark unambiguously before giving up.)

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    When in doubt, change the law to suit your needs.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    It's too late!

    I worked illegally in NZ under a false name due to having no work permit.

    An agency put me in the Jockey underpant factory, now I have da plans!!!!

    I've been flooding the market with cheap Y front knock-offs and when I activate their inbuilt mind-control I will have global dominion*.

    Mwaha etc.

    *(possibly only with sheep farmers)

    1. hplasm
      Happy

      Re: It's too late!

      2. Supply Underpant Gnomes.

      3. Profit!

  5. g e
    Black Helicopters

    So, you reckon, like, at the BEHEST of

    U(sa) Kno Who ?

  6. Dodgy Geezer Silver badge

    Spying on Kim Dotcom is one thing.

    But what will happen when the GCSB starts to move into banning Sheep Porn...?

    Perverted minds want to know...

  7. Vladimir Plouzhnikov

    Reined in, at last

    That well known abode of terrorists and paedophiles - New Zealand.

    Or does its Government just need the surveillance to keep track of the kiwis? Sorry...

  8. Maharg

    Whats next? A giant tower with a burning red eye overlooking the land?

    1. LaeMing
      Go

      I seeeeeeee YOOOOOOOOOOOporn.com

  9. Sir Runcible Spoon

    Sir

    Why are so many people sleepwalking through this life?

    The fact this is happening in so many so called 'free countries' at the same time is no co-incidence.

    Is there going to be anywhere left to go to get away from it? It certainly doesn't look like it.

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    About time

    Anyone with a clue understands the need to be able to monitor communications to catch crims and protect citizens.

    1. earl grey
      Flame

      Re: About time

      anyone with a clue understands that the government needs to spend its time tending to normal affairs and not be spying on its citizens.

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        Re: About time

        It's New Zealand - what else does the government have to do all day?

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    No problem

    If authorities don't want to obey the law, no problem; just like the emporer is star wars, they simply "make it legal" for them to do as they wish.

    Shame on the courts that allow them to get away with it. Why should anybody continue to recognize the gangster courts.

    1. Yes Me Silver badge
      Stop

      No fair

      "Shame on the courts that allow them to get away with it."

      Whaddya mean? The NZ courts have come out of this very well so far, zapping GCSB heavily over the Kim.com affair. That's exactly why the Key.govt is now zapping the law. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Human Rights Act case against the new law in due course, which would give the courts a second shot.

      Also the story doesn't emphasise that if the bill passes it will be by one vote, and that vote comes from an MP widely regarded as a joke.

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