NZ spies carry damaging disguise

By approving proposals to new government spy laws, are New Zealanders running the inherent risk of accepting an ideology that is abhorrently wrong?

To borrow a phrase from Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom, "mass surveillance is morally indefensible."

Hiding behind the blockade that mass surveillance keeps us safer, government plans to extend the powers of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) are at present, based on flawed information according to many.

Until evidence proves an amendment to the bill is required, questions should be asked as to why Prime Minister John Key is so actively pursuing this agenda?

Mega CEO Vikram Kumar played it straight down the line when quizzed by TechDay as to why he opposed the changes, citing a lack of evidence from government.

"There is no evidence there is even a problem," he insisted.

Harbouring towards to 'what if' style of 'just incase' policies, principles stated in the Security Intelligence Service Act claim the service "contributes to keeping New Zealand society secure, independent, and free and democratic."

Yet the Joe Public of New Zealand believes sleeping with the US is an affair which leaves Kiwis out in the cold.

"I just wrote then deleted my opinion for fear of it being stored with the now or future government and used against me," wrote Joe Bloggs on TechDay.

But despite the sarcastic tone, the genuine feel of unease among Kiwis is starting to grow.

"There has been no evidence put to the public that these exatrodinary measures are in any way justifiable by any reasonable threat or expectation of such threat," wrote Guy on TechDay.

"Therefore it appears that the government has decided to enact far reaching, (and by being poorly defined that makes them potentially limitless) law change for the benefit of the USA and their paranoid state surveillance institutions.

"As with the NZ military recently vaunted renewed co-operation with the US, we gain nothing by this cosying to a fading superpower except the increased likelihood of being more closely associated with the US by it's increasingly numerous and aggressive enemies."

While many may be more vocal in their disagreement with government proposals, is sitting back and allowing such plans to be passed a solid foundation for the future?

"I accept targeted spying is necessary for NZ security but carte blanch spying on all NZ citizens to send data so the US can use prism to profile all our citizens is criminal," Lord Vader told TechDay.

"We can not accept this breach of human rights"

After all, legal does not always mean right.

By approving proposals to new government spy laws, are New Zealanders running risk of accepting an ideology that is abhorrently wrong?