Amy Adams. Photo / The Listener
The second half of the Government's rejig of spying laws passed its third reading yesterday as the Opposition warned that New Zealand was moving in the opposite direction to the rest of the world by granting spy agencies more powers.
The Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) or TICS bill passed
into law with 61 votes in favour and 59 opposed.
The Act sets out obligations on telecommunications companies to provide eavesdropping capability to the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and formalises obligations for those companies to consult with the bureau on matters of network security.
Communications Minister Amy Adams said the law was introduced to safeguard public safety and security.
"Interception of telecommunications plays a vital role in investigating, disrupting and prosecuting serious crime, detecting and prosecuting international and domestic cybercrime, combating threats to national security, and responding to emergencies," Ms Adams told Parliament.
