The GCSB and NZSIS revealed concerns about the growing threat of foreign interference yesterday as RNZ launches new Chinese language news service and the national security system faces reform, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.
GCSB speak for first time about domestic counter-terrorism work
Once a year, the nation’s “spooks” as they’re often termed by the media, step out from beneath the cover of secrecy they operate under and present to parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee. The annual review of the country’s intelligence agencies including the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) was held yesterday. GCSB director-general Andrew Hampton told MPs about three recent domestic counter-terrorism operations the GCSB had been involved in. Two involved what Hampton described as individuals adhering to “white-identity violent extremism”, while the third involved someone making bombs with “an implied ideological motivation”. This kind of work hasn’t been made public before.
RNZ to launch new Asia unit against backdrop of concerns about foreign interference
Acting director-general of the NZSIS Phil McKee also revealed they were worried about the increasing threat of foreign interference and espionage. Incidence of other countries harassing ethnic communities, and influencing academics, government officials and media is increasing. Newsroom’s Sam Sachdeva is out this morning with a story on RNZ’s latest venture, a new Asia unit launching before this year’s general election which will produce original Chinese-language stories and translations. Sachdeva writes that it’s happening against “a backdrop of concerns about alleged censorship and foreign influence efforts affecting Chinese-language news media around the world — including New Zealand.”
Concerns about foreign interference via social media targeting at election
Disinformation Project researcher Sanjana Hattotuwa expressed concerns about foreign interference via social media micro-targeting and its potential to influence election outcomes earlier this month. Micro-targeting is the use of data to tailor advertising messages to individuals. Opinion among experts differs as to how effective it is and what New Zealand should do about it. This RNZ report from Phil Pennington is worth a read. The ABC published an investigation on its use in the Australian election last year. The most well-known example of micro-targeting is Russian-affiliated accounts spending more than $100k with Facebook during the 2016 US election. The European Commission recently agreed to tougher rules on targeted political ads ahead of the 2024 European Union (EU) elections. The draft proposals are part of a wider EU crackdown on privacy with tech giants like Google and Meta squarely in their sights.
National security system set for reform
The briefing for the incoming minister of national security and intelligence (prime minister Chris Hipkins) cites a large amount of legislative reform as one of the factors influencing the changing national security and intelligence environment in New Zealand. As Stuff’s Thomas Manch reported, the government is not ruling out merging the GCSB and the NZSIS as it continues to overhaul the national security system, four years after the Christchurch mosque terror attack. Cabinet has already decided to reduce the focus of the national security system from an “all hazards, all risks” approach and instead concern itself with “malicious threats”.