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Fnord666 [soylentnews.org] writes:

The National Security Agency (NSA) illegally used technology to spy on Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom, according to new documents from New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB).

[...] Dotcom was surveilled by the NSA and the GCSB in a joint intelligence operation named Operation Debut. According [nzherald.co.nz] to the Herald, that surveillance was scheduled to end in January 2012, but the United States continued to use New Zealand's technology.

According to court documents obtained [nzherald.co.nz] by the Herald, "Limited interception of some communications continued beyond the detasking date without the knowledge of GCSB staff."

The court papers don't explain how the NSA was able to use the GCSB's spying technology without the bureau's knowledge. According to the Herald, "The GCSB documents do contain an admission of NSA involvement, although it was not made outright."

[...] "The NSA has unrestricted access to GCSB surveillance systems. In fact, most of the technology the GCSB uses was supplied by the NSA."

Dotcom said his legal team would take further action based on the news.

"If the GCSB was aiding and abetting the NSA to spy directly on New Zealanders then the seriousness of the situation has changed dramatically and a truly independent inquiry and a new criminal investigation will be unavoidable."

Source:

http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/344742-nsa-unlawfully-surveiled-kim-dotcom-in-new-zealand [thehill.com]

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