ed Spies we can't trust
Living under the constant threat of terrorism, whether from religious extremists or North Korea, it is important to give proper legal tools to the National Intelligence Service (NIS). By no means would it mean handing a blank check to the spy agency but rather it should be conditional on how it earns public trust through rigorous oversight and the agency's own efforts to embrace accountability and improve transparency.
After all, the NIS has been often used as a “willing” tool by those in power to spy on or stymie political foes and create a favorable political situation for the ruling party. Even the current government faced allegations that the spy agency was used in the 2012 presidential election.
Following the passage of the antiterrorism bill, a bill against cyberwarfare is being pushed by the government. But the agency's latest behavior raises a question about its trustworthiness.
A day after President Park Geun-hye stressed the urgent need for an action on the bill at the National Assembly last week, the NIS revealed that North Korean hackers infiltrated top diplomats' mobile phones, making it look like it was engaged in an act of self-promotion. Then, it fell silent without explaining what it's been doing to thwart the North's hackers or prevent the recurrence of cyberattacks. It dropped more hints Friday through a briefing to lawmakers, but questions remain.
If it had failed to detect the North's attempts beforehand or revealed its ongoing investigation, it would mean the agency was incompetent or committed potentially criminal misconduct through a breach of secrecy. More importantly, it risked deeper mistrust by the public.
The NIS should remember the recent mass migration to a foreign messaging service by people who are worried about being snooped on following the passage of the antiterrorism bill, which critics argue strengthens the agency's authority without increasing supervision in proportion or forcing transparency.
There is, no doubt, a limit to the agency's self-regulation so it is important to empower the outside supervisory role to be assumed by the Prime Minister's office as stipulated in the terrorism law, for starters. This is the least that the government can do in order to force the agency to become more accountable and put the public worries to rest.
A tighter leash is also recommended for the NIS during the deliberations of the cyberwarfare bill. The NIS has cried wolf or acted as a servant for power one too many times that, although it is deplorable, its every step requires scrutiny.