NZ to face pressure over mass collection of telephone data

Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne gave a speech to a privacy and identity conference in Wellington. Photo / NZ Herald

A decision to stop the mass collection of Americans' telephone data will put pressure on New Zealand intelligence agencies to stop any similar programmes operating here, Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne says.

In a speech to a privacy and identity conference in Wellington, Mr Dunne said it was crucial that there were robust systems in place to protect the privacy of personal information from a "coercive or prying" state.

"Last week, the United States House of Representatives voted to stop the mass collection of Americans' telephone data by the National Security Agency.

"I suspect New Zealanders would have a similar view about their telephone records, and that there will now be pressures on our intelligence agencies to stop any mass data collection programmes they have underway, especially if it is being made available on an indiscriminate basis to other countries."

Asked after his speech if he believed mass collection programmes were operating here, Mr Dunne told the Herald that the recent US action raised questions that should be addressed in an upcoming review of our intelligence agencies.

Next month a wide-ranging review headed by former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Michael Cullen and lawyer Dame Patsy Reddy will examine both the SIS and GCSB.

The first regular review of the agencies, it will examine the legislative framework governing them, and consider how they are placed to protect New Zealand's interests and security.

"I think in context of the intelligence services review, that American decision becomes pretty relevant. If it is illegal in the United States to gather that data...then, you have to say, if it is being gathered in New Zealand - and that's an open question - and provided, you can't have it both ways," Mr Dunne said.

"You can't say it's illegal here [in the US] to provide this data about our people, but it's not illegal for you [New Zealand] to provide data about your people to us. I think that is the question I am raising, and I think that's something the review needs to consider."

Rebecca Kitteridge, director of the Security Intelligence Service, yesterday told the same conference that mass surveillance did not take place.

"We do not live in a surveillance state where everything you do online is reported - at least not by the Government. So, please enjoy the freedom that the internet gives you - you are free to click on whatever you want on your device, and you won't pop up on our system.

"Typically we get our leads through our interaction with the public, and information provided to us by other agencies."

Last week the US House of Representatives voted to end the NSA's bulk collection of Americans' phone records through the USA Freedom Act, which was already backed by the White House.

The bill, which only affects people within the US, would empower the agency to search data held by telephone companies on a case-by-case basis.

Bulk collection was revealed in 2013 by ex-security contractor Edward Snowden.