Police State: New Zealand government fast-tracking new law for spying on its citizens' internet
Opposition is building to the Government's proposed new law expanding the powers of spy agency the Government Communications Security Bureau. - The New Zealand Law Society, Internet New Zealand and civil liberties groups are all questioning the need for new laws. Illegal spying on residents like Kim Dotcom prompted the Government to draft new legislation specifying exactly when and where the GCSB may spy on New Zealanders. Prime Minister John Key has defended the new legislation. "The bottom line is that because of difficulties in interpretation in the law we need to clarify that law. But this is something that has been going on for a very long period of time under previous governments," Mr Key said. Next week the Bill will get its first public hearing before Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, to be chaired initially by Mr Key. And the signs are it will draw plenty of flak.