Internet and privacy law experts are calling on the Canadian government to carefully study provisions to the omnibus crime bill, which the Conservatives are expected to table this fall.
Critics say the three “lawful access” technical surveillance bills, which were part of the last parliamentary session, will dramatically impact the privacy rights of Canadians by allowing law enforcement to obtain digital information from internet service providers and other companies without a warrant.
Internet privacy advocacy group OpenMedia.ca is leading a coalition of academics and public interest groups in voicing their concerns against the legislation, which they are calling “warrantless online spying.”
“The government is trying to ram through an anti-Internet set of electronic surveillance laws that will invade your privacy and cost you money,” said OpenMedia on their online petition against the bill.
The group is asking that the proposed legislation be looked at carefully, instead of being rushed through Parliament, while the Conservative government vows the bill is a top priority and would be introduced and passed within 100 days of their post-election return.
