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Ontario Court Requires Warrants for Infrared Search

Posted by michael on from the see-thru dept.

someguyintoronto writes "This article from the Globe and Mail states that an Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled 3-0 that infrared surveillance is subject to the same laws that exist for obtaining warrants. The ruling came under a case where RCMP conducted aerial surveillance on a suspect's personal residence for production and trafficking of marijuana. The court commented: 'The nature of the intrusiveness is subtle, but almost Orwellian in its theoretical capacity.'" The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling has held much the same thing.

4 comments

  1. Getting falsely searched... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've heard that some have had their homes raided and it turned out to be be due to Aquariums for Salt Walter fish and correl, etc.

    The police, DEA, FBI, etc. thought it was grow lamps for illegal plants. Big surprise when they bust in a huge raid and the only grow lamps are those for a basement full of salt water reef tanks!

    Heh, heh, heh...

  2. Where is everybody? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...Arby's

  3. Only in the infra-red range? by Radical+Rad · · Score: 1
    "While I accept that technically what is being scrutinized is heat from the surface of a home, it is impossible to ignore the fact that those surface emanations have a direct relationship to what is taking place inside the home," it said.

    Finally a sensible opinion. But except for this last paragraph which seems to be from the opinion itself, the journalist writes as though the ruling only applies to IR radiation. If that is the case then I suspect that in the coming years the police and other agencies will pick this fight again and again at every other frequency band in the spectrum.

  4. Delaware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hi, I'm in Delaware! It's like Slashdot, only faster.