GCSB
NEW ZEALAND
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE
(See also: Domestic Intel - NZSIS - Security Intelligence Services - here)
Hon Christopher Finlayson, Attorney-General- here
2015/16 the budget: $89.6 million
Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB)
see Nicky Hager, writer (book)
David Lange
{ report released in error } -
Targets of GCSB:
Japan, Philippines, Argentina, France, Vietnam, + many small Pacific island states.
+ United Nations diplomatic traffic.
Two listening stations + Secret Post + Southern Cross fibre-optic cable:
Waihopai Station
1) SATELLITE communications interception station - Waihopai (near Blenheim)
intercepts and processes all phone calls, faxes, e-mail and computer data communications.
Tangimoana Station
2) RADIO communications interception station at GCSB Tangimoana (near Palmerston North)
3) Secret listening post
codenamed "Caprica" - NZ High Commission in Honiara, Solomon Islands
4) Southern Cross Cable
95% international internet access point
Construction & Ownership
1999: laid by the ship 'CS Vercors'
Spark New Zealand (50.01%)
SingTel (39.99%)
Verizon Business (10.00%)
mass surveillance - internet & phone traffic - 95% all NZ traffic
(part trans-Pacific network of telecommunications cables)
- operated by Bermuda company Southern Cross Cables Limited
- Southern Cross Cables Limited asked NSA to pay them for MASS SURVEILLANCE
allows government to spy on all phone calls and internet traffic from New Zealand { NZ govt denies & claims merely negotiation w/ NSA }
- collection and processing of intel
- distribution of intel
- information assurance | cyber security
- Signals Intelligence
- Communications Security
- Anti-Bugging Measures
- Computer / IT security
- technology
Foreign intelligence
Assistance to other NZ govt agencies
GCSB reports to the minister holding the Intelligence portfolio
by convention: always the Prime Minister
* Illegal surveillance of Kim Dotcom
Shortly before Fletcher (head GCSB) was appointed, the GCSB illegally spied on Kim Dotcom, a German national but New Zealand resident.
By law the agency cannot spy on New Zealand residents.
The GCSB admitted that Hugh Wolfensohn, acting director at the time, knew the organisation was spying on Dotcom.
Kitteridge Report
*may have unlawfully spied on up to 85 ppl b/w April 2003 and Sept 2012
(Kitteridge report, leaked - Rebecca Kitteridge, Cabinet Secretary)
Ian Fletcher (former diplomat) = Director GCSB
controversy re appointment (forgotten friend of John keys)
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SOURCE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Communications_Security_Bureau
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Cross_Cable
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