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Snooping, how bad could it be?

Issues surrounding the public's right to privacy just won't go away.

After Ed Snowden's revelations regarding the scope and scale of US spying, plus our own government's intentions to ram through unprecedented changes to legislation controlling the GCSB despite massive public opposition, has meant that this is a topic that won't go away any time soon.

But how much of the speculation that such powers would be abused is real and how much is just FUD being spread by those who perhaps have something to hide?

Surely no government would really use this information for political ends or spy on people for trivial reasons unrelated to national security or the war against terror -- would they?

Well apparently one of this government's goals is to achieve parity with Australia and if that extends to an abuse of spying powers then you should be worried, very, very worried.

According to this report from The Age, a local council in Victoria has been using powers to spy on citizens' internet and phone activities to investigate "crimes" as minor as littering and failure to register their dogs.

Neither of these offenses would appear to threaten Australia's national security and nor could any sane person consider them to be an element of the war against terror - so what gives?

I would hate to think that here in NZ, local councils would be empowered to call on the GCSB to spy on ratepayers who might be suspected of dropping a KFC box in the high street or having an unlicensed pooch.

As we well know, a few councils are filled with people who thrive on taking advantage of their positions to wield power over others -- not because it's a sensible use of their time or public money -- but simply because "they can".

It should also be remembered that while police are vetted in an attempt to weed out those who are not responsible and honest enough to be granted powers over their fellow citizens, council bureaucrats are not. The chances of any type of "spying" power being abused by local body workers or even local body politicians is therefore, far greater than would be the case with police.

No doubt the response from "the powers that be" will be "Councils will never be given the power to authorise snooping on ratepayers" - but can we honestly believe that?

Assurances from politicians are invariably hollow and worthless -- as I was reminded last week while driving to Hamilton and glimpsed a speed-camera van carefully parked amongst thick trees on the side of the road so as to be all but invisible. Remember "we will never hide speed cameras"?

We really are looking at the thin end of a very nasty wedge right now, as technology allows those in power to collect and store information on each and every one of us -- whether we have anything to hide or not.

For those who haven't read it already, NZer of the Year Dame Anne Salmond wrote a very good piece for the NZ Herald this weekend. Go read it now and just take a look at the comments. You'll see irrefutable evidence that the vast majority of NZers are strongly opposed to the law-changes that the government is attempting to foist on the people of this country.

Remember also that we have the technology to voice our disapproval. Email your MP and the PM right now to express your concern and disapproval of this legislation. It probably won't help but it is your responsibility. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance and with that comes an obligation to speak out when you see your rights being taken from you.

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