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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Cyber policing
A federal bill that could require Internet Service Providers to preserve the online data of Canadians and hand it over to law enforcement, including email communication, has been criticized as a potential invasion of privacy, but it's really just a matter of police trying to keep up with technology.
Bill C-51 would make it possible for police to demand that Internet Service Providers preserve electronic evidence for as long as three months, but only in cases where police have reasonable grounds to believe that an offence is being committed. They would be required to get a warrant to seize any data.
The bill, which is part of the government's anti-crime omnibus package, would also enable police to remotely track suspected criminals or terrorists through their cellphones. The law would make it illegal to possess a computer virus for the purpose of committing an offence and modernize offences related to deceptive marketing.
It may sound like Big Brother is preparing the legislative framework to eavesdrop on the private thoughts and missteps of every Canadian, but as criminals have become more sophisticated and technologically advanced, law enforcement has been left in the dust.
The proposed legislation is an advanced version of the telephone intercept, an invasion of privacy that was never anticipated when the phone was invented 100 years ago.
The legislation could create new costs for ISPs, which will be passed on to customers, but it will not likely be a huge financial burden, particularly if it puts a dent in the increasing range and number of cyberspace crimes.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 14, 2012 A10
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