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CND Government Demands Widespread Tap Access

Posted by Zonk on from the keeping-up-with-the-times-indeed dept.

north_of_49 wrote to mention a Globe and Mail article stating that the Canadian government is seeking the ability to conduct surveillance on the communications of its citizenry. From the article: "The major boost in interception capacity is in proposals the government has put forward in confidential negotiations with the telecom industry as it prepares new legislation on high-tech wiretapping scheduled to be introduced next month. Government officials insist their proposals will bring Canada's laws on wiretaps -- drafted when people still attached alligator clips to telephone lines to listen in -- up to speed with new technologies. But privacy advocates fear an erosion of safeguards, and telecom companies worry the government wants them to build in a costly interception system."

6 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. Shortform of Canada by HeyBob! · · Score: 5, Informative

    is CDN - Thanks!

  2. Should be a fun charter challenge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
    I'm pretty sure somehthing like this would violate the Charter of Rights.

    Fortunately laws like this are only good for 5 years until a new government has to pass another exception to the charter (charter exceptions are only good for 5 years, no more, and must be passed repeatedly by all new successive governments for the law to stay on the books).

    Specifically, this violates section 8 of the charter:


    8. Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.
  3. That's it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm packing my bags and moving to -- oh sh*t!

  4. Chinese connection? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Perhaps it has something to do with the recent finding that China has more spies in Canada than in any other nation? The government can't be too happy about that - they may be feeling they've been too lax.

  5. WIRETAPS IN CANADA??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Come on!!! CANADA???

    Exactly what kind of crime do they have to deal with in Canada?

    Maple Syrup Trafficing?

  6. Re:Privacy, Schmivacy by Nos. · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes, the summary is a bit misleading. What this is, is a bill to request that telecommunication companies have the CAPACITY to allow authorities WITH warrants to perform wiretaps on a variety of services including email and phone. The capacity they want is about 1/5000 users. So, if you're an ISP with 10,000 users, you need to be able to tap 2 users simultaneously. This isn't news, and certainly nothing that matters. On average 2000 warrants for taps are issued per year in Canada, and are only good for 60 days without renewal.