What intelligence agency in the West has absolutely NO oversight body or obligation to government?

[shockedcanadian]

Literally, not accountable. Literally no obligation. They are an individual and independent agency (funded quite well by the taxpayers of course). They have absolutely no oversight or liason between their agency and the government, the only nation in the "Five Eyes" that does not (the Five Eyes consist of America, New Zealand, Australia, England and Canada). You might be surprised to know that the only agency without any oversight it is the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

Astonishingly, a couple of years ago the current Conservative government hid a sentence in an omnibus bill that took away any direct responsibility from CSIS in regards to reporting to or having discussions with the government regarding what they do. In an almost comical example of outright lying, the reason for getting rid of any oversight (there is only the SIRC, which is a "review agency&quot is based on the savings of a meagre $1 million to the federal budget.


CSIS freed from final shreds of oversight
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2012/04/30/csis_freed_from_final_shreds_of_oversight.html

Consider for the moment that unlike the CIA which cannot spy on Americans on American soil, this is all that CSIS does. They are mandated to ONLY spy on Canadians within Canada. They do so without a leash, restrictions or obligation to anyone. Noone in the government, including the Prime Ministers Office can contact CSIS and demand an answer, noone is there to question tactics or potentially illegal activities. Remember, this is the equivalent of the CIA operating against it's own citizens using many of the same methodology, but to what end? With what obligation to democracy and Human Rights?

[JoeyT]

2. Pretty much all of them.

It's not like anyone is willing to rein any of them in in any country. They're not *supposed* to do stuff, but they still do it. And oversight from people that are either complicit or lied to constantly isn't really oversight.

[shockedcanadian]

3. I'm not even expecting that much

Reining in isn't even the concern; in Canada the oppressive methods extend FAR beyond simple "snooping". In my case; and presumably in the case of many others, we are experiencing draconian life pursuits and opportunity interference. I've had direct interference in two careers, though I have no criminal record or allegations...I even volunteered at a Home Hospice many years ago while in University. This interference occurred AFTER the corporations hired me (and I was experiencing success). It is an absolute Human Right violation both domestically and by International standards, truly shocking by any civilized standards, a dirty secret Canada wishes to keep hidden.

I have posted many examples of Canadian security apparatus abuses of Canadians Rights from the municipal police covert actions to Federal agency's database misuse (RCMP) and absurd and Gestapo-like obsession with information (and use of such flimsy information to ruin citizens right to pursue self-determination). You have the NSA, we have CSEC, that kind of innocuous spying doesn't concern me; direct persecution in citizens careers and personal lives, relationships and the like does.

When the Inspector General had the ability to view such abuses (my dossier for example), one had an outlet to ensure the actions were not as oppressive as they now can and will be and their ability to view, question and report back to the government would often provide enough of an incentive for CSIS to "self regulate". What government would suggest with a straight face that oversight of such a powerful agency is not in the populations interest?