The GCSB's role in ensuring the security of New Zealand's telecommunications networks is to be formalised in new legislation, the Government has announced as part of its overhaul of legislation around the spy agency. Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams said the changes to the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Act 2004 will update requirements for telecommunications network operators to have specialised eavesdropping equipment available for use by police, the SIS and the GCSB. Other changes to the Act mean network operators will be obliged to engage with the GCSB on network security, "where it might affect New Zealand's national security and economic well-being".Those security requirements are about ensuring telecommunications networks do not contain any unauthorised ability to copy or divert data, are safe from unauthorised access, and do not allow others to carry out espionage or disrupt services. The new law effectively formalises what the GCSB had been doing anyway, officials told reporters this morning.

Ms Adams said the changes "will not in any way alter the authority of police or intelligence and security agencies to intercept telecommunications, or reduce the checks and balances on how these agencies can access and use private communications information". "These matters are dealt with under separate legislation." Meanwhile, officials have given an assurance that information collected by the GCSB when it assists the SIS or police will not be shared with foreign governments or their agencies. Media were given a technical briefing this morning on the Government's overhaul of the GCSB Act which is being done in response to concerns GCSB surveillance of New Zealanders done in support of the SIS and police over the last decade may not have been legal. The new legislation will expressly allow the bureau to eavesdrop on New Zealanders when assisting those agencies or when it is conducting information assurance or cyber security functions. However, the ban on spying on New Zealanders remains when the bureau is conducting its foreign intelligence operations. Officials said any involvement by New Zealanders in matters it is investigating as part of its foreign intelligence operations will be referred to police or the SIS for further investigation.