Mass illegal surveillance down under revealed in Dotcom case

While it's been known for a while that New Zealand's intelligence agency GCSB (Government Communication Security Bureau) spied on Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom without legal precedent, it turns out that it may have done so in more than 80 different cases, highlighting the need for further regulation and monitoring of agency activities down under.

Prime Minister John Key ordered the investigation that turned up this news, perhaps causing friction with his long time friend and current head of the GCSB, Ian Fletcher. Whatever their personal situation though, the report has suggested the government agency needs to be reformed, as it not only has spied on citizens illegally but hasn't kept pace with technology.

Mastery of cyberspace? The report would certainly suggest otherwise. 

Other political parties are calling for independent reports, while prime minister Key has said it makes for “sobering reading.” He went on to say that he always expected the GSCB to “operate within the law,” and that he had big changes planned for the organisation.

Kim Dotcom's response to the news was simple: the government and GCSB heads should apologise to everyone illegally spied upon.

KitGuru Says: Does an apology and a PM promise to reform go far enough? What do you guys think? If it turned out that David Cameron was pals with someone at a British intelligence agency that had been illegally spying on citizens, would you want more to be done? Let us know in the comment section below or on Facebook.

[Thanks ABC]

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