Facebook, Google, Microsoft won't be exempt from proposed NZ 'PRISM' law
The New Zealand government has softened its contentious network surveillance bill by removing a ban on operators selling overseas services in the country if they are deemed in breach of national security requirements.
Communications and information technology minister Amy Adams yesterday tabled a supplementary order paper (PDF) with changes to the proposed Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) Bill (TCIS), based on feedback from from the public and the industry as well as recommendations from the parliamentary Law and Order select committee.
The bill requires that network operators working in New Zealand facilitate interception of traffic by domestic security agencies. Adams has removed clause 39 of the TICS bill in the SOP, which allowed the responsible minister to prevent network operators from selling overseas telecommunications services in New Zealand if the interception capability or lack thereof threatened national security.
