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Canadas Privacy Watchdogs Wary of Proposed Surveillance Laws
Canada's privacy commissioners are raising concerns over two bills introduced by the Canadian government in June: the Investigative Powers for the 21st Century Act and the Technical Assistance for Law Enforcement in the 21st Century Act. The two bills propose broader telecommunications surveillance and investigative powers for Canada's law enforcement and security agencies. The laws would, for example, allow such agencies to collect e-mail and IP addresses of Canadian Internet users without the need for a warrant, as well as use tracking devices on such things as mobile phones and motor vehicles. Newfoundland and Labrador's privacy commissioner has indicated that the Canadian government has not yet shown compelling evidence to justify such powers. To address concerns, privacy watchdogs are asking that Parliament ensure that a clear and demonstrable need exists for such powers, that the intrusiveness of the bills be minimized, and that there be a five-year Parliamentary review.
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