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Privacy United States Communications Government The Internet

NSA Unlawfully Surveilled Kim Dotcom In New Zealand, Says Report (thehill.com) 133

According to new documents from New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), the NSA illegally used technology to spy on Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom. "The New Zealand Herald first reported that the GCSB told the nation's high court that it ceased all surveillance of Dotcom in early 2012, but that 'limited' amounts of communications from Dotcom were later intercepted by its technology without the bureau's knowledge," reports The Hill. From the report: Dotcom was surveilled by the NSA and the GCSB in a joint intelligence operation named Operation Debut. According to the Herald, that surveillance was scheduled to end in January 2012, but the United States continued to use New Zealand's technology. According to court documents obtained by the Herald, "Limited interception of some communications continued beyond the detasking date without the knowledge of GCSB staff." The court papers don't explain how the NSA was able to use the GCSB's spying technology without the bureau's knowledge. According to the Herald, "The GCSB documents do contain an admission of NSA involvement, although it was not made outright." Dotcom is facing charges of copyright infringement and money laundering related to Megaupload, a file-sharing website shut down in 2012. He is currently fighting U.S. attempts to extradite him from New Zealand.
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NSA Unlawfully Surveilled Kim Dotcom In New Zealand, Says Report

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    • by AHuxley ( 892839 )
      New Zealand became a member of the Five eyes. Easy to follow NZ and what would be the NSA, GCHG after 1945 into the 1960's.
      They did a lot of work on Japan, France, the Philippines, South African military, Laos. Some issues with NSA in 1985 and France.
      NZ had one thing the NSA wanted. Locations for NSA satellite receiving stations.
      A long history of politics, hardware and total support for the NSA.
  • I doubt the US constitution offers any protection from unreasonable search and seizure to foreign people in a foreign land -- regardless of whether it may have violated NZ law. As such fighting against extradition from NZ is the only thing keeping him from facing the courts.

    I am not surprised that the NSA spied on him, I would just be surprised if any of that information could or would make its way into civilian law enforcement hands. I suspect the NSA was spying because any storage could be used to st
    • by sjames ( 1099 )

      I'm not aware of a geographical limitation on the Constitution anywhere. Other than a few things like being the President or voting, it isn't confined to Citizens either.

      • While you're correct, the federal government interferes with the so-called rights of citizens every day. Whether it's the USA PATRIOT act, the NDAA, or other similar legislation, you in fact have zero of the rights enumerated in the constitution left to you.

        • by sjames ( 1099 )

          Rampant violation of the Constitution is another matter. I agree that the violations are rampant. I just refuse to let claims that the Constitution doesn't apply go unchallenged. Let it be known when authorities de-legitimize themselves.

    • I doubt the US constitution offers any protection from unreasonable search and seizure to foreign people in a foreign land

      The US constitution is supposed to apply to US authority, not any geopolitical boundaries.

    • It turns out other countries have laws too. Perhaps the violated New Zealand laws? Oh, that's right, We expect foreigners to obey our laws when here, but it is a one way street.
  • by Maelwryth ( 982896 ) on Tuesday August 01, 2017 @07:47PM (#54922939) Homepage Journal
    The Internet Party NZ [internet.org.nz] will be drafting an Anti-Spy bill live online on Sunday the 6th of August [scoop.co.nz] with the help of international guests who are experts in the field of state and private intelligence gathering practices, violations and mass surveillance.
  • I'm sorry, is that supposed to mean something to the NSA, or any of the other agencies that are designed to operate outside the 'law'?

  • Languauge (Score:2, Informative)

    by quenda ( 644621 )

    What report?
    No report in the Herald or other NZ publication would use the word "surveilled". They still speak English there.

    • Now you can too! [merriam-webster.com]
  • by OrangeTide ( 124937 ) on Tuesday August 01, 2017 @11:09PM (#54923561) Homepage Journal

    Someone stole my bike. But since I'm not a billion dollar corporation I don't get to have several government agencies at my disposal for pursuing what amount to a civil case.

    I assure you the I am hurt more for not having a bicycle than a movie studio is when someone pirates a film.

  • Misread that title as NASA - Kim is almost big enough to show up on one of their LEO satellites I suppose.
  • terrorist, unfriendly foreign power, or any sort of security threat to the US. The NSA is an intelligence agency, not an anti-piracy agency.
    • They work for the highest (domestic) bidder. What do you think their base in Germany is for? But people only gets apeshit crazy about Chinese Industrial espionage.

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