The GCSB Bill has now been passed by Parliament.

Next up is the Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) Bill also know as the TICS Bill. This is an update of the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Act (2004) that forced communications providers (ISPs, telcos, data networks, etc) to provide “lawful intercept” capabilities so that the Police, SIS and GCSB could access communications once they had a suitable warrant. The new bill expands and clarifies these requirements.

However, the addition of the word “security” is the key to what has changed. The new bill now gives the GCSB sweeping powers of oversight and control over the design, deployment and operation of all data and telecommunications networks run by network providers in New Zealand. The stated reasons are to both protect New Zealand’s infrastructure and to ensure that surveillance agencies can spy on traffic when required. As part of this, the GCSB will have the power to stop network providers from reselling overseas services that do not provide these capabilities.

The bill has passed the first reading and is expected to be reported back from the Law & Order Select Committee on the 20th of September.

Tech Liberty articles

We’ve written about this bill and also made a written and oral submission to the Law and Order Select Committee. Here’s a list of our articles in publication order:

• Govt proposes GCSB control over NZ communications in new TICS Bill
• Does the TICS Bill really give the GCSB control and oversight of NZ telecommunications?
• GCSB’s new powers for wide-spread spying on New Zealanders
• Will the GCSB ban Apple from New Zealand?
• Tech Liberty written submission
• Tech Liberty oral submission

Other articles worth reading

• Submissions to the Law & Order Select Committee.
• The NBR’s Chris Keall writes about TICS’s protectionist twist.
• Vikram Kumar writes about secret Ministerial orders.
• Vikram Kumar, disappointed by telco submissions, asks whether ISPs should be privacy crusaders.
• Vikram Kumar – The duty to assist.
• Vikram Kumar – Service provider’s view of the TICS Bill jackboot.
• Human Rights Commission’s Report to the Prime Minister re the GCSB and TICS Bills (PDF).
• Internet NZ’s submission to the Law & Order Select Committee and their prepared remarks for the oral submission.
• Ian Apperly writes about the cost of the TICS Bill to NZ’s IT industry.
• Ian Apperly – Why the TICS Bill could put NZ ICT companies out of business.
• Microsoft’s submission warns that the TICS Bill is a threat to the industry and may lead to a withdrawal of services.
• Paul Brislen – intercept bill takes a cavalier approach to privacy.