Prime Minister John Key has clarified that the GCSB will be able to
access some email metadata - such as viruses - but won't record other
details.
The government's spy agency won't be allowed to trawl through New Zealanders' emails, but it will have the power to check for viruses or other security threats in emails to big Kiwi companies.
Prime Minister John Key has given some clarity to what "metadata" the Government Communications Security Bureau will be able to access under new powers in a controversial bill, and is promising his speech at its third reading - which could take place on Wednesday or Thursday - will give further clarity on the metadata issue.
The bill enables government departments and large companies of national significance to seek the GCSB's help with cyber-security protection, which will require a warrant, signed by the prime minister and the commissioner of security warrants.
Mr Key says the cyber-security function is to "protect" information, rather than accessing content.
He says the GCSB will be able to look at some email metadata, but that will not include addresses, the times emails were sent or received, or their content.
"Essentially it flows through a filter, and as it flows through that filter, it doesn't record for anything other than a hundredth of a second," he told media.
"It's looking for the viruses which are coming into the system - it's not looking at content, it's not looking at who sent the email, it's simply looking for the viruses and we don't record ... where the emails came from, who got them, any of that sort of stuff."
It is not clear whether the filter will also pick up keywords.
Mr Key is categorically ruling out "wholesale surveillance" of emails.
In cases where the GCSB wants to access the content of New Zealanders' emails, Mr Key expects the agency to apply for very specific warrants, and seek the New Zealander's consent, unless there are very good reasons not to.
Parliament's intelligence and security committee will be able to see what type of warrants are being signed off and ask questions about those.
The bill's most controversial provision makes it legal for the GCSB to spy on New Zealanders on behalf of the SIS, Defence Force and police, if they have a warrant.
The government's spy agency won't be allowed to trawl through New Zealanders' emails, but it will have the power to check for viruses or other security threats in emails to big Kiwi companies.
Prime Minister John Key has given some clarity to what "metadata" the Government Communications Security Bureau will be able to access under new powers in a controversial bill, and is promising his speech at its third reading - which could take place on Wednesday or Thursday - will give further clarity on the metadata issue.
The bill enables government departments and large companies of national significance to seek the GCSB's help with cyber-security protection, which will require a warrant, signed by the prime minister and the commissioner of security warrants.
Mr Key says the cyber-security function is to "protect" information, rather than accessing content.
He says the GCSB will be able to look at some email metadata, but that will not include addresses, the times emails were sent or received, or their content.
"Essentially it flows through a filter, and as it flows through that filter, it doesn't record for anything other than a hundredth of a second," he told media.
"It's looking for the viruses which are coming into the system - it's not looking at content, it's not looking at who sent the email, it's simply looking for the viruses and we don't record ... where the emails came from, who got them, any of that sort of stuff."
It is not clear whether the filter will also pick up keywords.
Mr Key is categorically ruling out "wholesale surveillance" of emails.
In cases where the GCSB wants to access the content of New Zealanders' emails, Mr Key expects the agency to apply for very specific warrants, and seek the New Zealander's consent, unless there are very good reasons not to.
Parliament's intelligence and security committee will be able to see what type of warrants are being signed off and ask questions about those.
The bill's most controversial provision makes it legal for the GCSB to spy on New Zealanders on behalf of the SIS, Defence Force and police, if they have a warrant.
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