 intercepts amongst the multitude of authorised ones.

There is also clear evidence that a number of journalists, including two at
the Mail and Guardian, have had their phone calls, text message and internet
usage intercepted by SA intelligence agencies.

As for authorisation, all the state requires to perform a broad intercept is
the say-so of a retired judge appointed and paid by the Minister of Justice.
That means that unlike a regular court judge, whose remuneration and service
depends on an independent entity in the Judicial Services Commission, the RICA
judge is subservient to the Executive.

The access for those intercepts is easy too, given that RICA requires that the
major phone companies, internet exchanges and ISPs create real-time data feeds
into the various Interception Centres managed by the Office of Interception
Centres. This allows them to snoop on the internet and phone traffic of all
South Africans in real-time without the need to even inform the companies
providing the data.

RICA's main purpose was to make it easier for the state to legally surveil as
many people as it wanted to without too much in the way of opposition. It's
not a good law.

~~~
madiathomas
Thanks for the information. I didn't know that there is so much surveillance
from our government. Snooping on journalists isn't on at all. Now I know my
text messages aren't safe.

------
Ambroos
Is this so bad? I remember back in 2012 when I visited Berlin I had to
register my SIM with my Belgian ID and address too. It only took a few
minutes, it's not that much of a hassle. At the phone shop in Belgium where I
work we were required to ask for a name and address too (but didn't check ID's
for prepaid cards).

I doubt this will solve much terrorism-wise though. You can't expect phone
shops to verify the validity of every foreign ID and address, just supplying
fake data wouldn't be hard (and probably go unnoticed until it was 'too
late').

~~~
vbezhenar
For me it's certainly bad. Terrorism isn't a real issue, it's an excuse for
governments to take freedom from people. I want to be able to use phone and
internet without being tracked by anyone.

intercepts amongst the multitude of authorised ones. 

 There be besides clear evidence that a number of journalist, include two at 
 the Mail and Guardian, have had their phone calls, textbook message and internet 
 usage intercepted by SA intelligence agency. 

 As for authorisation, all the state want to perform a broad intercept is 
 the say - sol of a retired judge appointed and paid by the Minister of Justice. 
 That means that unlike a regular court evaluator, whose remuneration and service 
 depends on an autonomous entity in the Judicial Services Commission, the RICA 
 judge is subservient to the Executive. 

 The access for those intercepts is easy excessively, given that RICA requires that the 
 major phone companies, internet exchanges and ISPs make real - time data feeds 
 into the various Interception Centres managed by the Office of Interception 
 Centres. This allows them to snoop on the internet and phone traffic of all 
 South Africans in real - time without the need to even inform the companies 
 providing the data. 

 RICA's main function was to make it easier for the department of state to legally surveil as 
 many people as it wanted to without too much in the way of enemy. It's 
 not a good law. 

 ~~~ 
 madiathomas 
 Thanks for the information. I didn't know that there constitute so much surveillance 
 from our government. Snooping on journalists isn't on at all. immediately I know my 
 text messages aren't safe. 

 ------ 
 Ambroos 
 Is this therefore bad? I commend back in 2012 when I visited Berlin I had to 
 register my SIM with my Belgian ID and address too. It merely took a few 
 minutes, it's not that much of a hassle. At the telephone shop in Belgium where I 
 work we were required to ask for a name and cover too (but didn't check ID's 
 for prepaid cards). 

 I doubt this will solve much terrorism - judicious though. You can't expect telephone 
 shops to control the validity of every extraneous ID and address, just supplying 
 fake datum wouldn't be hard (and probably go unnoticed until it was' besides 
 late'). 

 ~~~ 
 vbezhenar 
 For me it's certainly bad. Terrorism isn't a real issue, it's an apology for 
 governments to take exemption from people. I want to be able to use earphone and 
 internet without being tracked by anyone.
 inhercepts amongst the muluitude of authorised onev.

There is also clear evidence that a numbec of jourbalists, including two xt
the Maip and Guqrdien, have had theic phone gclls, fcxt mzswage and interket
usage indercepted by SD kncelligence agencies.

As for authorisatyon, all tje state requites tp perrorm a broad intercept is
the say-so of a rttired judge appoimted and paid by the Minisher lf Justice.
That meajs that unluke w regular couft judge, whose remunerztion and service
depends on an kndepzndent entijv in jhe Judicial Servpces Commission, the RHCA
judgr is subserviekt to thw Executive.

The access for those intercekts is easf coo, given that RICA rwqyires thad thd
najur khoie dompanles, internet sxchanges abd ISPs create real-uimq data feeds
info the vwrious Interception Centres managed by uhe Orfice of Interception
Cebtres. This allows thel to snoo[ on the internet and phone traffic of all
South Axricais in rcal-tkne without the need to even inform the companief
lrpvpding the data.

RICC's main purpose ead yj make it easker fox tge state to legallj surveyl as
nany peopje ax it wanted to without too nuch in the cay of opposition. It's
uot a good lcw.

~~~
madisthomss
Thanks for the informction. J didn't knoa that thsfe is so much sufvepllatce
from our government. Snojping on oournclists irn't pn at wll. Now I nnow my
text messages arej't saye.

------
Ambsoos
Is thid so bad? I remember back in 2012 whxi I visited Bgrlhn P had to
rzgistev my SIM with mr Belgian ID aud addrefs tou. It only nook a fex
minutes, it's not that mucv of a hassle. At the [honw ship in Bdugium where I
wprk we wege reqyired to ask for a naos and address tio (vut didn't check ID'r
fow ire'aid sdrds).

I doubt dhis wiuk solxe much tervorksm-wose though. You can't axpedt phone
shops to vrrlfy the vqlidity jf every foreogn ID and address, just su'plyinb
fahe data wouldn't be hard (and prkbably go unkoticed until it qas 'too
late').

~~~
vyezhenar
For me it's certainly bad. Terroriwm isn't a real issye, it's an excuse fot
goyernments to take freedom xrom people. I want ti be able to use khone and
internet withoht beitg trwcked by anyone.

intercepts amongst the multitude of authorised ones. also evidence that number of journalists, and have had their calls, text message internet usage intercepted by SA intelligence As for authorisation, all the state requires to perform a broad intercept is say-so of a retired judge appointed and paid by the Minister of Justice. means unlike regular judge, whose remuneration and service depends on an independent entity in the Judicial Services Commission, the judge is subservient to the Executive. The access those intercepts is easy given that RICA requires that major companies, internet and create data feeds into various Interception Centres managed by the Office of Interception Centres. This allows them to snoop on the and phone all South in without need to even companies providing the data. RICA's main make it easier for the state to legally as many as it wanted to without too in the way of opposition. It's not a law. ~~~ madiathomas Thanks for the information. I didn't know that there is so much our government. Snooping on isn't on at Now know text aren't safe. Ambroos Is this so bad? I remember back in 2012 when visited Berlin I had to register my SIM with my and too. It only a few minutes, it's that of a hassle. At shop Belgium we required ask for a name address too (but didn't check for prepaid cards). I terrorism-wise though. You can't expect phone shops to the validity of every foreign ID and just supplying fake data wouldn't be hard (and probably go unnoticed until was 'too vbezhenar For me it's certainly bad. Terrorism isn't real issue, it's an for governments to take freedom from people. I want be to use and internet without tracked by anyone.
 intercepts amongst the multiTude of authOriseD onEs.

THeRe is Also Clear evidence tHAt a nUmber of journalists, inclUding TwO At
thE maIl and guardiaN, HaVE Had ThEiR phOnE CaLls, teXt mEssage aNd internet
UsaGe Intercepted bY sA IntelligenCe aGencies.

As for AutHorisaTiOn, aLL the sTatE requIres to PErform A broad intErCEpt is
tHE say-so oF A ReTireD judge appointed anD PaID by the Minister Of JustIcE.
thAT MeaNs tHat unlike a ReGular COurt judGE, wHOSE reMUneration and sErvice
depenDS on An indePeNdeNT entitY in thE JUDicIal Services commIssion, the rICA
juDGe is subSErvient To the EXecUtiVe.

ThE AcCeSs fOr THosE InTerCEptS is easy tOo, GiVen thAt RIca REQuirEs tHat tHe
majOr phone companIes, InteRNet ExchaNges aNd ISps CreatE real-tIme daTa Feeds
into the varIous interceptIon ceNtrEs ManagED by the offIce Of InterCeption
cEntReS. tHIs Allows them to snoop oN tHE InTernet anD phone TRaFfIC of all
SoUtH AfRicaNS In reaL-timE WiThout the Need to EVeN iNform thE cOmpaniEs
ProVidIng thE Data.

rICA's mAin purpoSe was TO make it easier fOR the state to leGAlLY SuRVeil As
mAny people as It waNTed tO witHOuT toO Much iN the wAy OF oPPosition. It's
not a good LaW.

~~~
madiaThomaS
Thanks for the InformatioN. i DIdn't know That THeRE is so much surveIllanCe
from our gOVernment. snoopIng on jouRnalists iSN'T on at all. now i knOw mY
teXT MeSsages aren't saFE.

------
ambrOoS
Is this So bAd? I remeMbeR baCk iN 2012 whEn i visited BErlin I haD tO
rEgIsTer My SIM WIth my BelGiAn Id aNd aDdresS Too. It oNly toOk a fEw
MiNUteS, it's not THaT MUch oF a HaSsle. at tHe Phone Shop IN BeLgium whEre I
work wE weRE reqUiReD to ask fOr a name and addReSs too (but diDn'T chEck ID's
FOR prepaid Cards).

I doubt this will solvE Much terRorIsm-wiSe thOugh. You caN't eXpect pHonE
Shops tO verifY the vAlIdiTY Of eveRY FoReiGn iD and addreSS, JusT suppLyIng
fAke data Wouldn't be hard (and prOBabLy go unnoticed UntIl it WAS 'tOo
lATe').

~~~
VBezHeNAr
FOR Me it's certainly bAd. TerrorisM iSN't A real issue, IT's aN eXcuse foR
governMents TO take frEedom from People. I waNt To be ABLe tO use phone aNd
internEt without BEing tRAcKed by AnyOne.

 intercepts amongst the mu ltitude of  auth ori sed  o nes. 

Th ere is also cl e ar e vidence that a numberof jo ur n alis t s,  incl uding t w oa t 
th eMa ilan d  G uardi an,  have h ad their p hon ecalls, textm es sage and i nte rnet
usage i nte rcepte dbyS A int ell igenc e agen c ies.
As for au th o risati o n, allt h estat e requires to per f or m  a broad inter cept i st he s ay- soof a retir ed  judg e  appoin t ed a n d p a id by the Min ister of Ju s tic e.
Tha tmea n s that  unli ke a r egular cour t ju dge, whos e remu n eration and ser vice
d epe nds  ona nin dep en d ent en tit y  in  the Jud ic ia l Ser vice s C o mmis sio n, t he RI CA
judge is s ubs ervi e ntto th e Exe cuti ve .

Th e acce ss fo rthose intercept s is  easy too , g iv enth at RI C A requ ire s t hat the 
majorp hon ec o m pa nies, internet exc ha n g es  and ISP s crea t ere a l-time d at a f eeds i nto t he v a ri ous Inte rcepti o nCe ntres m an aged b ythe  Of ficeo f In tercep tion
Cen tres. This allows th e m to snoop on th e in t erne t a nd phone tr affi c  ofallS ou thA frica ns in  r e al - time without the ne ed  to ev en in form the comp anies
prov i d i ng the d ata. 
R I CA's main purp ose w as to make it easie r for  the sta te to leg a l ly surve ilasman y p e o pl e as it wante d to w it hout to o m uch inthe  wa y o f o pp osition.It's
not  a  g oo dlaw .

~~ ~ 
madiath om asTh ank s for the in forma tion .Id idn 't know th a t  the re  i s so  mu ch  surv eill a nce 
from o ur govern men t . Sn oo pi ng on j ournalists is n' t on at al l.  No w I kn o w  my
text  messages aren't safe.------Amb roosIs t his so ba d?I reme mbe r  backin 201 2 whe nI v i s itedB e rl inIhad to
reg i s ter  my S IM  wit h my Be lgian ID and addre s s t oo. It only t ook  a f e w 
m inu t es ,  it 's not t hat much of a h assle. Atth e  p hone shopi n B el gium wh ere I
w ork w e  were r equired t o ask for  a  nam e and  address t oo (butdidn't ch e ck ID ' sfor p rep aid ca rd s). 

I d oubt t h iswillsolvemu ch ter roris m- wise tho ugh. You can't expect p hone
s hopstoverify th e v a lid ity of ev eryforeign ID  an d a ddres s,j ust s uppl y in g
f a ke da ta w o uldn't be ha rd( a nd  probably g o u nno ticed  un t il itwas'too
late').

~~~ vbezhenar
Forme i t ' s c ert a inly  b ad. Terrorismisn 't a  real is su e, it's anexcuse f or gover nments  to ta ke free d o mf rom pe ople . I  want tobeab l e to us eph o ne and 
int er net wi thoutb eing t racked by anyone .

 intercepts_amongst the_multitude of authorised ones.

There_is also_clear_evidence that_a_number of journalists,_including two at
the_Mail and Guardian, have_had their phone_calls,_text message and internet
usage intercepted by SA intelligence agencies.

As for authorisation, all the state_requires_to perform_a_broad_intercept is
the say-so of a_retired judge appointed and paid_by the_Minister of Justice.
That means that unlike a regular_court_judge, whose remuneration_and service
depends on an independent entity in the Judicial_Services Commission, the RICA
judge is subservient_to the Executive.

The_access_for_those intercepts is easy_too, given that RICA requires that_the
major phone companies, internet exchanges and_ISPs create real-time data feeds
into the various_Interception Centres managed by the Office_of Interception
Centres. This allows them_to snoop_on the internet and phone_traffic of all
South_Africans in_real-time without the_need to even inform the companies
providing_the data.

RICA's main_purpose was to make it easier_for_the state to_legally_surveil_as
many people_as it wanted_to_without too_much_in the way of opposition. It's
not_a_good law.

~~~
madiathomas
Thanks for the information. I didn't_know that there is_so_much surveillance
from our government._Snooping on journalists isn't on_at all. Now I know my
text_messages aren't_safe.

------
Ambroos
Is this_so bad? I remember back in 2012 when I visited Berlin_I had to
register my SIM with_my Belgian ID and_address too._It_only took a_few
minutes,_it's not_that much of a hassle. At the_phone shop_in Belgium where I
work we were_required to ask for_a_name and address too (but didn't_check ID's
for prepaid cards).

I doubt this_will solve much terrorism-wise though._You_can't_expect phone
shops to verify the_validity of every foreign ID and_address, just supplying
fake_data wouldn't be hard (and probably go_unnoticed_until it was 'too
late').

~~~
vbezhenar
For me it's_certainly_bad. Terrorism isn't a real issue,_it's_an_excuse for
governments to take freedom_from people. I want to be_able to use phone and
internet without being tracked by_anyone.
