Official access to encrypted communications in New Zealand: Not more powers but more principle?

Abstract

Although New Zealand is a member of the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence community, it has taken a relatively cautious and in recent years often deliberative approach to counterterrorism powers, including in relation to access to encrypted communications. That approach can be seen to reflect New Zealand’s security, legal and political context and in particular its tendencies to independence, pragmatism and support for human rights. It is also apparent in the responses to date to the deaths of 51 people in the March 2019 attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand and, in particular, in the Christchurch Call, an initiative against terrorist and violent extremist content online. The Call is a non-binding standard adopted in cooperation with numerous other governments and large online service providers and includes commitments to transparency and human rights. As Five Eyes countries’ individual and collective positions concerning access to encrypted communications become increasingly forceful, the question is whether New Zealand will follow those positions or pursue more principled, collaborative and likely more workable measures, in line with its wider approach and the example of the Call.