Toews surprised by content of online surveillance bill

[MiddleClassCentrist]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/02/18/pol-thehouse-vic-toews.html

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says he is surprised to learn that a section of the government's online surveillance bill provides for "exceptional circumstances" under which "any police officer" can request customer information from a telecommunications service provider.

In an interview airing Saturday on CBC Radio's The House, Toews said his understanding of the bill is that police can only request information from the ISPs where they are conducting "a specific criminal investigation."

But Section 17 of the 'Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act' outlines "exceptional circumstances" under which "any police officer" can ask an ISP to turn over personal client information.

"I'd certainly like to see an explanation of that," Toews told host Evan Solomon after a week of public backlash against Bill C-30, which would require internet service providers to turn over client information without a warrant.

"This is the first time that I'm hearing this somehow extends ordinary police emergency powers [to telecommunications]. In my opinion, it doesn't. And it shouldn't."

Toews confirmed the bill will be sent to committee before second reading, which he said will allow for the opportunity to amend the bill beyond its original scope.

Normally, bills would go to committee after a vote at second reading, but that vote sets the scope of amendments that can be made.

This way, sending the bill to committee before the second reading vote will allow MPs to make broader changes to the legislation.

According to Toews, the opposition will be able to "bring in as many amendments as they wish to bring forward."

"If the opposition is actually really concerned about substantive issues about the bill, and if they bring those forward, I think there will be a very healthy debate," the minister said.

Social media pushback

Twitter users showed their discontent with Bill C-30 by sending Toews messages via a stream called #TellVicEverything.

Using the hashtag, Twitter users detailed every aspect of their personal lives, often with sarcasm, to make a statement about the dangers of government intruding on their privacy.

When asked for his reaction to the Twitter push back, Toews laughed saying it was "actually very amusing, and very pleasant that this many people would be that concerned about what I think, and secondly, that they want to tell me."

"Actually some of these things are very, very funny. They're very humorous," he said.

"You know, CBC should consider doing a show on it. It's really great stuff."

'Vikileaks' probe goes to Speaker

Not so amusing to the minister was an anonymous campaign against him via a Twitter account used to post his personal information including details of his divorce.

"Now what bothers me, is not so much the content of the attacks against me, but that there may be members of Parliament or a caucus that is hiding behind the anonymity of government resources to attack me personally," said Toews.

On Thursday, the results of an investigation by The Ottawa Citizen found the anonymous Twitter account was linked to an IP address originating inside the House of Commons, which Toews said could constitute a breach of his parliamentary privileges.

During question period on Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird accused the NDP of having "been caught in a nasty, dirty internet trick" — an allegation the NDP has denied.

Toews confirmed he would be sending a letter to House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer requesting an investigation into the matter.

And in an open letter to constituents obtained by the Winnipeg Free Press on Saturday, Toews wrote that the attacks against him "included criminal acts and threats of criminal acts against me and my family," and have been referred to the police for investigation.

Controversial remarks

Toews stepped back from controversial remarks he made last Monday inside the House of Commons after Liberal public safety critic Francis Scarpaleggia asked about the privacy concerns arising from the proposed internet surveillance bill.

Toews responded by saying Scarpaleggia could "either stand with us or with the child pornographers."

When asked by Solomon if he would apologize for those remarks, Toews said "I've thought about this very carefully, and if fair minded Canadians have come to the conclusion that my comments, that I made in the heat of Parliamentary debate, were not appropriate, I'm prepared to accept their judgment."

Federal and provincial privacy watchdogs have also expressed their concerns with the proposed legislation.

Government's case 'weak,' says privacy watchdog

Ann Cavoukian, Ontario's Privacy Commissioner, has taken issue not only with the remarks made by Toews last Monday but with the name of the bill itself, characterising it as "disingenuous."

In an interview airing Saturday on The House, Cavoukian told Solomon "it's unfortunate because it shows how weak the government's case is."

"My guess is the reason they are doing this is because they don't have a strong case and in order to engage the public and their support, they have to make it about the protection of our children.

"It's nonsense."

According to Cavoukian, the proposed bill would create "a mandatory surveillance regime."

Cavoukian says that by accessing customer information such as the client's name, phone number, IP address and subscriber data, one can find out "what web sites an individual has gone to, someone's surfing habits online, what videos they're viewing, what content they read."

"You can infer, by connecting the dots of the surfing habit online, a great deal of very personal information about an individual. And I object to that kind of information being accessible without a warrant," said Cavoukian.

She also pointed out that in addition to forcing ISPs to turn over client information without a warrant, the proposed bill would also demand that telecommunication service providers install surveillance capability on their networks.

That's "creating a very costly venture."

"That means, ultimately, the public will bear the cost," said Cavoukian.

Cavoukian's federal counterpart Jennifer Stoddart also sounded the alarm over Bill C-30. According to Stoddart, the new bill contains "serious privacy concerns."

"Since this broad power is not limited to reasonable grounds to suspect criminal activity or to a criminal investigation, it could affect any law-abiding citizen," said Stoddart in a statement issued Wednesday.

Stoddart said her office would be undertaking a thorough review of the bill and presenting the findings to Parliament.

This government doesn't even read it's own legislation.

PATHETIC.

[olpfan1]

Anonymous North will make them pay

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhecKjSpi3Jo%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded&feature=player_embedded&v=hecKjSpi3Jo&gl=CA

Edited February 19, 2012 by olpfan1

[jbg]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/02/18/pol-thehouse-vic-toews.html

This government doesn't even read it's own legislation.

PATHETIC.

Somehow not confidence-inspiring. We have similar glaring errors in bankruptcy legislation (my area of practice) down here.

[capricorn]

Anonymous North will make them pay

Who's "them"?

[Guest Derek L]

*cough* If Anonymous, the Tweeter, and/or the Opposition think they are responsible for the reversal of the surveillance bill, they’re as out to lunch as those that wrote it……….If the majority of members of the CPC wanted this bill as is, it would pass.

And I’ll suggest, that Minister Toews will shortly find himself in a less demanding cabinet position during the next reshuffling…….You heard it here first.

[capricorn]

And I’ll suggest, that Minister Toews will shortly find himself in a less demanding cabinet position during the next reshuffling…….You heard it here first.

Is there such a thing as the Waterman Minister?

[Guest Derek L]

Is there such a thing as the Waterman Minister?

I was thinking more along the lines as this:

[punked]

I'm glad to see this Bill C-30 go back to committee because from the exerts I have seen of it on the internet this Bill appears to be based on old 20th Century technology. People for and against this Bill appear to think their IP address is something secret. I am internet illiterate and in 30 minutes today I learned how to reverse search any IP address; how to hide my IP address; how to relocate my IP address to any place in the world; how to remotely installed spyware on any computer and I had a selection of software to accomplish it.

Now, it someone who is internet illiterate can learn to do these activities I am sure someone who is involved in illegal activities such as child pornography or terrorist activities are going to be using an anonymous IP address and likely have been installing spyware for years. Therefore having a list of IP addresses does not mean they are all legit.

Bill C-30 needs to be brought in the present day and must also be dynamic to adapt to the future.

The problem with the bill is it going to make ISPs bare the brunt of enforcement meaning we are going to get worse Internet services. Not only that but it will drive the smaller ISPs out of business.

[capricorn]

I was thinking more along the lines as this:

Hilarious.

[scribblet]

You do realize that the bill has been sent back to committee before second reading, there will be a lot of amendments or maybe it just won't come back.

[olpfan1]

You do realize that the bill has been sent back to committee before second reading, there will be a lot of amendments or maybe it just won't come back.

if all of it is not scrapped then the current government must face the consequences

now whatever that means i don't know but you can count on anonymous to find dirt on those assholes in Ottawa

and then expose them

[punked]

punked ... you are right whatever form Bill C-30 takes someone will have to pay the $$$ and it will be you and me. Welcome to reality.

That is the thing when you think about it ISPs will spend a lot of money to do something that wont help with much of anything. It is another gun registry but this time the Cons our wasting our money, and it wont be the government spending it will be the private sector.

[jbg]

if all of it is not scrapped then the current government must face the consequences

Are people going to remember this in 2015?

[olpfan1]

Who's "them"?

“We know all about you Mr. Toews, and during Operation White North we will release what we have unless you scrap this bill. We told you to expect us.”

[olpfan1]

Are people going to remember this in 2015?

I don't know, I hope so

[jbg]

I don't know, I hope so

I doubt I'll vote on the basis of a bill in 2012.

[punked]

I doubt I'll vote on the basis of a bill in 2012.

I know plenty of people who will if this gets passed and their Internet service suffers. This is a pocketbook issue and like someone pointed out Canadians spend more time on the internet then most other countries. It is bad policy and people will vote on bad policy. Heck the Conservatives ran on the gun registry for like 10 years. You bet the opposition will run on this the same way. It is a waste of money.

[capricorn]

now whatever that means i don't know

Well maybe you should know what you mean before you write it and enlighten us with your deep thoughts.

but you can count on anonymous to find dirt on those assholes in Ottawa

and then expose them

You sound empowered. It must feel good to get others to advocate for you.

[capricorn]

“We know all about you Mr. Toews, and during Operation White North we will release what we have unless you scrap this bill. We told you to expect us.”

Too late. The dirt's been spilled.

[olpfan1]

Too late. The dirt's been spilled.

His divorce isn't what they mean, they are aware of vikileaks30

obviously they have ways of getting confidential information

[olpfan1]

Well maybe you should know what you mean before you write it and enlighten us with your deep thoughts.

You sound empowered. It must feel good to get others to advocate for you.

There is nothing I can do other than write emails and protest

[capricorn]

His divorce isn't what they mean, they are aware of vikileaks30

obviously they have ways of getting confidential information

Are you hinting you have a pipeline into this "Anonymous" movement? Or are you just guessing?

[olpfan1]

Are you hinting you have a pipeline into this "Anonymous" movement? Or are you just guessing?

I am following their twitter

[olpfan1]

btw Anonymous has done great things, they've helped police nab all kinds of people with child porn

they helped police in mexico arrest top cartel leaders

theyre not anarchy, they help normal citizens like you and I

[capricorn]

I am following their twitter

Between posting an average of 40 messages per day here and following the twitterverse, you're a busy guy. I just hope you're getting enough fresh air.