Government’s Strategic Services Agency (SSA) Amendment Bill could mean the end of media freedom, since journalists researching issues, collecting information and dealing with politically sensitive sources could fall under surveillance by the SSA, says Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen.
“The effect of the introduction of the new concept of ‘serious crime’ in the bill, together with the Interception of Communication Act and provisions of the Sedition Act, which is tied into it, can be the beginning of the end of the fourth estate,” Ramdeen told T&T Guardian yesterday, during an Opposition press conference at the Parliament.
The Opposition is calling on Government to withdraw the SSA Bill and refer it and amendments being proposed by the Opposition to a select committee or the matter may be tested in the Privy Council if the bill becomes law.
Debate on the controversial bill began in the Senate on Tuesday after passage in the Lower House. The bill, part of Government’s anti-crime thrust, seeks to expand the SSA’s powers, including use of the Interception of Communication Bill to “tap phones” to obtain information concerning a wide range of matters.
But Ramdeen said the problem in the bill was that power allows the SSA director to intercept certain communication. The package also involves the Data Protection Bill. The T&T Publishers and Broadcasters Association had protested the DP Bill, saying it would threaten media freedom and subsequently, only parts were proclaimed.
Ramdeen said “serious crime,” on which the SSA Bill is based, involved a huge range of offences. He said the way the bill was framed allowed the SSA director unfettered powers and unlimited discretion to intercept the communications of anyone who was simply just carrying out their daily lives but who the director considered was doing an act related to one of those offences.
Opposition Senator Wade Mark said the bill infringed on human rights, especially the right to privacy, and violates the Constitution.
“This is Big Brother spying on you...,” Mark warned, saying the SSA’s expanded powers could intrude on people’s social media interaction. He added the SSA would be able to “track your Facebook, Twitter account and email without your knowledge” in seeking information.
Ramdeen, replying to queries about the bill’s effect on the media, said under the Interception of Communication Act, the SSA director had unlimited discretion to intercept the communications of any reporter and claim that the exercise of his discretion fell within one of the four categories identified in the bill.
The Opposition is also against the bill’s proposal for the SSA director to be appointed by the National Security Minister, since the Opposition fears political interference/agendas could be manifested via the SSA.
The Opposition’s list of amendments is headed by a proposal for an independent Intelligence Review Committee to be appointed by the President to “watchdog” SSA’s work, including reviewing information-sharing arrangements and monitoring provision of information. The proposed IRC will also protect intelligence info in SSA custody/control via reasonable security arrangements.