New Zealand Parliament Votes To Extend Spying Powers 148
pinkstuff writes "Amid protests and much opposition New Zealand parliament has just passed a bill which allows the The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) greater spying powers."
Public opinion doesn't matter (Score:5, Interesting)
For a long time, governments of modern democracies have been rather afraid of public opinion and the press, and have avoided doing things that would result in protests and opposition.
Then at some point they realized they could bribe the press, and that the public's opinion doesn't really matter, nor does it amount to much or lead to much violence in a society of over-fed TV addicts. Today's protesters are all bark and no bite, and the powers-that-be know it full well. So they do whatever the fuck they want without even trying to be discreet about it.
That's where we're at right now. Welcome to a new form of tyranny, in which dictators are "democrats" who resort on soothing words and the complicity of mass-media to pussify the populace and keep it in check. Violence and outright dictatorship is so yesteryear...
Catch up on what the neighbours are watching (Score:3, Interesting)
A: No, the army has got the gun this week and it's the turn of the police next week.
To be a bit more serious they are probably only catching up on what Australia and the US are getting out of NZ communications via the Australian company Telstra that owns most of the NZ communication networks now. Telstra have already admitted that they give US agencies access to their networks without a warrant.
Re:First world problems. (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm starting with the soap box, and the ballot box will soon follow. We'll see how many boxes it takes until we see change. Part of the problem with the West is that we've lost the realisation that change is possible and is driven by public choice. We get the government we deserve, and I am damned well going to make my vote in September count.
Re:Keeping up with the Joneses (Score:5, Interesting)
It makes you wonder? (Score:5, Interesting)
Who does all this spying serve? Really. Who?
Re:Public opinion doesn't matter (Score:5, Interesting)
I wonder if it had something to do with better security at public events and better investigative techniques. As recently as around WW1 it was common for unpopular politicians to be assassinated and the killer could get away with it without too much trouble. Over time it became harder to kill politicians and get away with it, until we're in today's situation where there are anti-sniper teams around these appearances, the buildings the politicians reside in are armored and it's practically impossible. They're safer from the angry masses than the 1700s French aristocracy could have ever dreamed of. They have nothing to fear.
Re:So much for retiring there (Score:5, Interesting)
He just values his privacy and liberty, quaint old concepts that had to be sacrificed for safety in our safer-than-ever world, I know.
NZ is still in my top 5 list of desirable locations but it's been accelerating down for a while now.
Re:Public opinion doesn't matter (Score:4, Interesting)