The analysis of data is a critical part of our response to the increasingly complicated and challenging task of protecting New Zealand and New Zealanders in a digital age.
The type of data that is potentially relevant to our mission is expanding all the time. The rising importance of data analysis coincides with the increasingly widespread dissemination of misinformation and dis-information. This has made determining the accuracy of data increasingly relevant to our work.
Data is essential in helping us identify subjects of interest and their associates. If we can identify links between individuals and groups, we can better understand a subject of national security interest's behaviour and connections. We can also quickly exclude irrelevant information or people with no association to the subject of national security interest. Data helps us join the vital dots in an investigation and allows us to focus our attention on individuals or organisations that are relevant to our national security objectives.
The Intelligence and Security Act (the Act) allows us to access certain information for the purpose of performing our functions. Specifically, we may:
- Request information from other public and private sector agencies and individuals on a case-by-case basis
- Have direct access to certain databases held by other agencies on the basis of an agreement made under the Act
- Seek case-by-case access to restricted information pursuant to a warrant-like application process. Restricted information includes driver licence photographs and tax information; and
- Compel disclosure of certain business record information held by telecommunications network operators and financial service providers. This does not include the content of communications. Compulsory disclosure only occurs in particular circumstances approved by the Minister responsible for the NZSIS and a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants.