Clearance for e-mail snoops

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Your computer files and e-mails may be intercepted by electronic spies but a band of MPs think you have nothing to fear.

A parliamentary committee yesterday rejected the worries of internet junkies, IT entrepreneurs, the Green Party and the Privacy Commissioner, over a proposed law change allowing an increase in state snooping.

After hearing their concerns about the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 6), the select committee ruled that the legislation was not an attack on privacy.

"We consider that overall the [law change] will strengthen privacy protection and does not significantly increase the powers of the state to intrude on individual privacy," the committee said.

The change makes computer hacking illegal but gives exemptions to the police, the Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau.

"These exemptions relate either to existing powers or to activities that these agencies could presently undertake without specific authorisation," the report said.

"The exemptions are also placed on a clear statutory footing and are supported with appropriate safeguards."

Privacy Commissioner Bruce Slane believes the changes authorise browsing through personal information on an unprecedented scale.

The owner of Auckland-based internet service provider PlaNet, Alan Marston, said the Government seemed set to ram through the legislation.

"It's draconian and it's undemocratic.

"I have fears as an ISP owner who could have his network link, computers - and therefore his business - compromised."

Green MP Keith Locke said his attempts to get the committee to install greater protection had been "knocked on the head."

"Basically, there is no concession to the genuine widespread public feeling that interception of electronic communications is very dangerous," he said.

"The potential for fishing expeditions is quite dramatic.

"Key word searches can be used and there is the potential for huge invasions of privacy involved in remote access of people's computers."

The committee said it had considered concerns about communications being captured by large-scale trawls using keyword searches.

"However, we consider that the safeguards ... are adequate to ensure that personal privacy is balanced appropriately with the rights of the state to protect its citizens."

MPs from Labour, National, New Zealand First and Act wrote the report of the committee, which was chaired by Labour's Janet Mackey.

www.nzherald.co.nz/privacy

Privacy Commissioner (NZ)

Electronic Privacy Information Centre (USA)

Echelon Watch

Cyber Rights and Liberties (UK)

Anonymity on the Internet