Similar to yesterday's post on China's internet censorship, the federal government of Canada intends to make a push towards empowering police to gain access to people's online information without a warrant. For instance, in a recent National Post article, "civil libertites groups fear erosion of privacy rights." In other words, some acivist groups are concerned that the Canadian federal government is strongly advocating for legislation that would essentially "force internet service providers to turn customers' personal information over to police without a court order." Evidently, the RCMP have been pressuring the federal government for quite some time as it would substantially improve their ability and quickness in building suspect profiles.
In November of 2005, our former Liberal government initiated the lawful access bill which is the first step in granting police with the power access anyone's internet information. However, it did not pass before the federal election was called.
My Critique
To grant police access to unwarranted internet information is simply a violation of our rights to private personal lives. Please tell me where the Privacy Act of Canada plays a role? According to the act, organizations must "obtain your consent when they collect, use or disclose your personal information." In effect,only in extreme cases should police need to access personal private internet information; and those cases warrants should be justified.
Advocacy of the Devil
Globalization and the communication power of the internet has both positive and negative implications. Unfortunately, some negative aspects include the ability for criminals to mask their identities, organize, and mobilize across the world. Not to mention the ability for 'sexual predators' on the internet to flourish. If these criminals can simply hide behind the web-isn't then, the internet a great tool for criminals to carry on their mishaps. The right to privacy does not grant us the right to be protected behind the mask that is the internet.
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