New Zealand’s eavesdropping agency used an Internet mass surveillance system to target government officials and an anti-corruption campaigner on a neighboring Pacific island, according to a top-secret document.
Analysts from Government Communications Security Bureau, or GCSB, programmed the Internet spy system XKEYSCORE to intercept documents authored by the closest aides and confidants of the prime minister on the tiny Solomon Islands. The agency also entered keywords into the system so that it would intercept documents containing references to the Solomons’ leading anti-corruption activist, who is known for publishing government leaks on his website.
XKEYSCORE is run by the National Security Agency, and is used to analyze billions of emails, Internet browsing sessions and online chats that are collected from some 150 different locations worldwide. GCSB has gained access to XKEYSCORE because New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes surveillance alliance alongside the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
A number of GCSB’s XKEYSCORE targets are disclosed in a top-secret document that was obtained by The Intercept and New Zealand newspaper the Herald on Sunday. The document raises questions about the scope of the surveillance and offers an unprecedented insight into specific people monitored by New Zealand’s most secretive agency.
The targets list, dated from January 2013, was authored by a GCSB analyst. It is contained in a so-called “fingerprint,” a combination of keywords used to extract particular information from the vast quantities of intercepted data swept up by XKEYSCORE. None of the individuals named on the list appear to have any association with terrorism.
Most of the targets, in fact, had a prominent role in the Solomon Islands government. Their roles around the time of January 2013 suggest GCSB was interested in collecting information sent among the prime minister’s inner circle. The targets included: Barnabas Anga, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade; Robert Iroga, chief of staff to the prime minister; Dr Philip Tagini, special secretary to the prime minister; Fiona Indu, senior foreign affairs official; James Remobatu, cabinet secretary; and Rose Qurusu, a Solomon Islands public servant.
The seventh person caught up in the GCSB’s surveillance sweep is the leading anti-corruption campaigner in the Solomon Islands, Benjamin Afuga. For several years he has run a popular Facebook group that exposes corruption, often publishing leaked information and documents from government whistleblowers. His organization, Forum Solomon Islands International, has an office next door to Transparency International in Honiara, the capital city of the Solomon Islands. GCSB analysts programmed XKEYSCORE so that it would intercept documents sent over the Internet containing the words “Forum Solomon Islands,” “FSII,” and “Benjamin Afuga.”
Each of the named targets was contacted by the Herald on Sunday prior to publication. Several were not reachable or did not respond to a request for comment. Robert Iroga, who was the prime minister’s chief of staff at the time his name appeared on the list, criticized the surveillance and said it would paint a “pretty bad image” for New Zealand.
“I’m shocked to hear about the intrusion of the New Zealand government into the sovereign affairs of a country like ours,” Iroga said. “Any intervention in this way to get information from the Solomon Islands is highly condemned.”
Benjamin Afuga, the anti-corruption campaigner, said he was concerned the surveillance may have exposed some of the sources of the leaks he publishes online.
“I’m an open person — just like an open book,” Afuga said. “I don’t have anything else other than what I’m doing as a whistleblower and someone who exposes corruption. I don’t really understand what they are looking for. I have nothing to hide.”
A spokesman for Manasseh Sogavare, the recently elected prime minister of the Solomon Islands, said the issue would be addressed through “diplomatic channels.”
The Solomon Islands are about 2,300 miles north of New Zealand and have a population of some 550,000 people, according to United Nations figures. In the late 1990s and early 2000s the islands suffered from ethnic violence known as “The Tensions.” This led to the 2003 deployment to the Solomons of New Zealand, Australian and Pacific Island police and military peacekeepers. By January 2013, the date of the target list, both New Zealand and Australia were focused on withdrawing their forces from the island country and by the end of that year they were gone.
The XKEYSCORE list shows New Zealand was carrying out surveillance of several terms associated with militant groups on the island, such as “former tension militants,” and “malaita eagle force.” But with the security situation stabilized by 2013, it is unclear why New Zealand spies appear to have continued an expansive surveillance operation across the government, even tailoring XKEYSCORE to intercept information about an anti-corruption campaigner.
Andrew Little, leader of New Zealand’s Labour Party, told the Herald on Sunday the surveillance was at odds with the country’s diplomatic relationship with the Solomons. “You would assume we have relations with government at the highest level and constructive dialogue,” he said.
The surveillance may have been part of a secret attempt to intercept information about The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, an inquiry that was set up by the Solomon Islands in the aftermath of the ethnic violence. The commission was modeled on South Africa’s post-apartheid process and launched by Bishop Desmond Tutu during a 2009 visit to the Solomons. The XKEYSCORE list includes the keywords “Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” “TRC,” and “trc report.” Moreover, Afuga, the targeted anti-corruption campaigner, worked with the commission as a project coordinator.
GCSB declined to comment for this story. In a statement, the agency’s acting director, Una Jagose, said: “The GCSB exists to protect New Zealand and New Zealanders. We have a foreign intelligence mandate. We don’t comment on speculation about matters that may or may not be operational. Everything we do is explicitly authorized and subject to independent oversight.”
A spokesman for New Zealand prime minister John Key also declined to comment. The spokesman said: “New Zealand’s intelligence agencies have been, and continue to be, a significant contributor to our national security and the security of New Zealanders at home and abroad.”
In recent weeks, The Intercept has published a series of stories about the extent of New Zealand’s surveillance in collaboration with the New Zealand Herald, the Herald on Sunday, and The Sunday Star-Times. Earlier disclosures, which were based on documents from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, have exposed the country’s broad surveillance across the Asia-Pacific. The revelations have shown how a surveillance base in the Waihopai Valley is funneling bulk data into the XKEYSCORE system and they have also exposed that New Zealand is targeting some its strongest trading partners for surveillance and then sharing the data with the NSA.
Photo of Honiara, the capital city of the Solomon Islands. (Lonely Planet Images/Getty.)
Well, those fellows can easily come under the influence of China or North Korea and allow their small island to be used for spying or other military activities. We have to keep an eye on them regardless of how innocent they may appear. In fact, spying on them is only an extension of the domestic spying that we strongly encourage our partners in this mighty war on terror to engage in. If the home is healthy then the rest of the world cannot be a concern. Just look at all the Muslims in the Miiddle East – they were not paying attention to their own domestic security, and now they are getting their heads halaaled.
Explain spying on an anti-corruption campaigner.
Show me one campaigner who restricts himself to a single campaign for life.
All campaigner have the unhealthy habit of meddling in affairs that do not concern them. As a consequence they need to be tracked constantly to make sure they stay clear of terrorists, drug pedlers and swindlers.
“We have to keep an eye on them regardless of how innocent they may appear.”
That is the motto of the NSA toward the American people, for sure. (Though the word “innocent” really means “powerless,” and they can’t be sure who might get power in the future. So best to get blackmail material on everyone.)
We need to elect politicians who will pass a law that ensures that every single security service employee, from the bottom to the most senior official involved, is fired, fined, and jailed if they ever engage in, even for a second, surveillance of anti-corruption organizations, or environmental organizations, or Rights organizations, etc. unless they have incontrovertible evidence that the organization is engaging in an imminent physical terrorist attack.
This anti-corruption crusader should be deputized, not have his basic civil rights violated by what appears to now be a criminal organization.
“I have nothing to hide.”
It isn’t you that has something to hide. It’s them and they want to make sure you don’t find out about it.
We (well the government – I never really got a say in it) created these systems like XKEYSCORE with good intentions: to fight terrorism. Unfortunately, the road to hell was paved with good intentions.
I think it is important for the public to understand what these systems are and how they have the potential for abuse (and more then just the potential since they have been in the past and continue to be abused).
America is like Fagin and New Zealand and the others are like the pickpocket children that Fagin corrupted. Unfortunately, most don’t care as long as only the pockets of others are picked. The Solomon Islands? That’s fine, steal them blind, but don’t pick the pocket of your own citizens. And we know they are doing exactly that. Russ Tice told us they have even stolen democracy in the US. But where are the wiretaps that prove it? Those taps of Obama himself? (Or the taps of anyone?) Got to have those or nothing will change.
Highly recommended — do go to Kim Dotcom on Twitter to find out the latest during these past 12 hours (@ Sunday) re: the US & NZ spying on him over time. Quite a mind-boggling narrative (featuring his wife Mona), here assuming only that it will get substantiated, authenticated, and elaborated with links to real sources during these coming days/weeks.
It’s entirely predictable that unconstrained surveillance coupled with unaccountable secret state security and secret laws will be used to target political dissent and rivals, including seeking private information useful for political blackmail.
“A spokesman for Manasseh Sogavare, the recently elected prime minister of the Solomon Islands, said the issue would be addressed through “diplomatic channels.” ”
What? So this can be swept under some rug, I suppose. Sigh. Are there any, any officials ANYWHERE that will actually stand up for the people they’re supposed to serve/
So we r spying on anticorruption campaigners now r we??. Where oh where did that ‘threat” come from? This is a new low for NZ. We used to b the country that could say NO to the US……now John Key has turned himself into their little lapdog ready to undermine New Zealands morals for induction into the ‘club’ .. About time we turned the surveillance onto our dear leader. He seems to have been up to an awful lot without our (you know the people he’s supposed to serve)knowledge).
So the tl;dr is that GCSB spies on senior foreign government officials, and wants to get secret docs of foreign governments?
Is this news? Is this a scandal? I don’t get it. This is exactly what SIGINT agencies are *for*.
Look up the Solomon Islands and if possible use Google Earth and then ask yourself if this nation could ever be a serious threat to anybody, excepting themselves.
Well, they gave the world bungee jumping, and look at all the people who get killed and maimed by that. You always have to watch those shifty natives… there you are handing out your smallpox blankets without a care in the world, they share a peace pipe with you to show no hard feelings, next thing you know countless millions of your European brethren are being exterminated by bad medicine pushed by greedy tobacco companies. :)
Semi-seriously, anyone might change the world, so you really never do know what people are going to do and how it’s going to affect you … the great dream of intelligence is that they’re going to get out ahead of everything, make the good stuff happen, strangle the bad stuff in its crib. But has it ever really worked?
The hubris of the control freaks has finally ceased to amaze me. The frustrating part is that these freaks are taking the whole planet down with them. I warn my children and grandchildren that they will face some harsh realities, both ecologically and politically. Times being what they are though they are too busy just trying to make a living to take much heed. I can’t blame them. My own social awakening didn’t happen ’til the last kid left the nest. Loved the bungee jumping reference, an item NOT on my bucket list.
Your comment emphasizes you’re reveling in the dr part, as in you didn’t read any of the other articles on surveillance.
Yes you do.
Total control has never worked for long. Forcing people to be what you think they ought to be always fails leaving both parties disappointed and angry with the other. These are simple life lessons which every parent and/or child learns eventually. Ap(parent)ly our leaders were never a child or had parents, because they’re acting like super controlling parents and the rest of the world…well, you get the picture. The problem is, the game they’re playing has some very serious and sometimes deadly consequences where a simple apology just won’t do. Privacy is paramount in human endeavors. Otherwise, should we all just shed our clothes and run around naked? I know, some might like it. Perhaps we’ll soon be ordered to install cameras in every room of our homes so our benevolent overlords can watch over us and keep us safe. Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? Take a look around. There’s already cameras everywhere you go. The NSA has the ability to remotely turn on the camera and microphone on your computer not to mention the abilities of some game consoles. Not so ridiculous, is it?
Remember that old Twilight Zone episode where the kid basicaly rules the world and the parents?
I keep thinking the US gov is a bunch of spoiled 4 year olds presiding over a bunch of spoiled tweens with a smattering of adults being held hostage by both. Trying to deny anything to either with too much power is an exercise in self-destruction. This is a problem we need to solve, not a troll. Saying there are no good solutions becomes more and more true when you cannot act to make them happen.
In the show, if you recall, if you do not do what the kiddy says, you get poofed away. Eggshells.
No self respecting intelligence agency could back down in the face of such a direct challenge. When a person denies hiding anything, it’s a sure sign they are hiding something important.
“I’m an open person – just like an open book”
in Fahrenheit 451 …
quote”When a person denies hiding anything, it’s a sure sign they are hiding something important.”unquote
Says the tyrant who murdered his son and wife.
“I don’t have anything else other than what I’m doing as a WHISTLEBLOWER and someone who exposes CORRUPTION. I don’t really understand what they are looking for.”
Asked and answered.
Right on target.
He has the very most important thing to hide — the identities of the leakers.
I’m waiting, impatiently, for the report that will leave the United States government with no alternative but to have Clapper, Brennan of the infamous CIA, and several others fired, or have them resign.
That these people believe they will be able to continue the 24/7/365 surveillance, and improve it, forever; we have to show them that individual privacy is Inviolable, and can only be targeted upon the issuance of a warrant by a court of competent jurisdiction, in keeping with the First and Fourth Amendments.
Agreed. Keep speaking up, writing, making phone calls, and protesting in every venue available. We cannot let this stand.
I do not believe enough people are immune enough to the propaganda machine for any report to do that. Then there is also the hydra issue.
Reminded of a quote from ‘Contact’… why build one when you can build two for twice the price.
Truth and reconciliation being considered a threat only makes sense if lies and disunity are the goals.
Yes, I think you have it. TPTB don’t want truth and don’t want to see folks united. What makes me almost despair is that we cannot seem to unite and come together to fight stuff such as this. Unity is what we so need and it is seemingly quite hard to achieve.
Thanks for your comment feline 16. It helped me crystalize what’s been nagging me about all the problems we have right now.There’s a thread linking all the issues for which people are objecting and speaking out but most haven’t seen the connection, YET. Right now the masses are divided, each group clamoring to be heard as if we need to compete for attention(what little we’re given). How to convince everyone there’s a common cause. Runaway capitalism for one, which gobbles up everything and everyone for the enrichment of the very few(and their lackeys). The supporting Surveillance and Police state to ensure we underlings don’t revolt or in case we do to quash it quickly. Perpetual war as a multi-purpose tool instilling fear while our pockets are picked to grease the wheels also to enrich the very few. There are cracks in their schemes and people(some) are starting to see things as they truly are. I battle despair too, but having seen the truth, I refuse to willfully go blind again. Perhaps the seemingly disparate issues and the groups pushing them will rise and unite like a crescendo of human voices saying NO MORE. I don’t know, I do know I can’t go back.
Hi jgreen7801 –
Thanks for your reply – glad I was able to help in some way. You’re correct – I don’t think most people have connected the dots to see the bigger picture. I think lots of folks see this is wrong or that is wrong and stop there. I did see one sign of hope in that with the “Black Lives Matter” movement – there does seem to be a diverse group on board. That’s one reason why although we can’t lose sight of the racial aspect, we can’t be limited by it either since it could potentially affect anyone.
Unity is the most important thing we need. I don’t know if you or anyone is familiar with Prof. Ian Haney Lopez. He wrote the book “Dog Whistle Politics” about how racial “codes” have convinced folks to actually not see what’s really in their best interest. I mention him since he was just on BookTV – the Tuscon Festival of Books yesterday. I can’t say all he talked about, but he made the point that we need to continue to work toward a fully integrated society. In my mind he’s right on!
I just keep wondering why people don’t see that with all the challenges we have – and one not even need to be some “conspiracy theorist” (a term basically used to dismiss folks) to know there’s big problems and we need to WORK TOGETHER to solve them. All one has to do is look at income inequality. There are plenty of fairly mainstream sources to investigate that, from Bartlett and Steele to Piketty to Gilens and Page… if people would pay attention. But (and I digress) I see too often in comments say at The Guardian or Yahoo or NPR where the poor are “blamed” for being poor. Not that simple, folks.
Anyway, I’ve really rattled on. Feels good to air things out a bit though.