The Spooks Are After your Email

[Higgly]

The Canadian government security apparatus is now asking parliament to give it the right to demand that internet service providers give them your name and address without getting a court order. Those of you who have been following events in the country's legal framework will know that there has been constant pressure from the security aparatchiks to bypass the judiciary.

Unlike the US, our government stands only on a two-legged stool: parliament and the judiciary. The Governor General (brave though she may be) and the senate are inconsequential.

The security wonks already have the ability to sniff your web traffic and phone calls and to identify your IP address and phone number, so the next step is only to find out who you are.

Internet Service Providers have so far refused to provide this information.

Do you want the government security aparatchiks to have this ability?

[geoffrey]

Actually, Stockwell Day stood up today and told the report to essientially go to hell. There will never be investigations on internet activity without a judical warrant as long as the CPC is in power.

[bk59]

I don't really see any political party attempting to pass legislation like that. Or maybe I just hope that. It seems like it would be an excellent way to convince voters that you really are a big, scary party with an evil agenda.

Even if legislation like that was passed, I'd give it about five minutes after it came into effect before someone challenged it in court.

[Michael Bluth]

Actually, Stockwell Day stood up today and told the report to essientially go to hell. There will never be investigations on internet activity without a judical warrant as long as the CPC is in power.

Yet another reason to support the present Government.

[bk59]

Yet another reason to support the present Government.

Not really. Maybe if another party was campaigning to limit people's rights in this way. But no one is. No one, that I have heard, wants to do this.

[Michael Bluth]

Not really. Maybe if another party was campaigning to limit people's rights in this way. But no one is. No one, that I have heard, wants to do this.

Are you sure that all other parties would take the hardline the Conservative's have in this case?

[Higgly]

Actually, Stockwell Day stood up today and told the report to essientially go to hell. There will never be investigations on internet activity without a judical warrant as long as the CPC is in power.

Very nice. I don't believe it.

"Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be a s big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings." -John F. Kennedy

Well at least those that have McDonell-Douglas in their back pocket. We need to take our JFK Rose-colored glasses off. This guy was not a nice man.

[bk59]

Are you sure that all other parties would take the hardline the Conservative's have in this case?

Yes. Why do you think otherwise?

The fact is, this is not a hard line at all. Canadians do not want to see the authorities gain access to information like this without a valid warrant. This is an easy call for every party.

[Higgly]

Yes. Why do you think otherwise?

The fact is, this is not a hard line at all. Canadians do not want to see the authorities gain access to information like this without a valid warrant. This is an easy call for every party.

Exactamundo.

[geoffrey]

Exactamundo.

So all the fear you tried to start with this thread was... completely misguided?

[Higgly]

So all the fear you tried to start with this thread was... completely misguided?

You've lost me. Care to explain?

[Robin]

So who cares about my insignificant communications? CSIS had better get some idea first before they waste time and MONEY looking at my life!!

Robin