Online surveillance bill backed by police chiefs

Online surveillance bill backed by police chiefs
Feb 20, 2012 18:56
MARRIE Points: Join Date: Jan 7, 2008 Status: offline	source: cbc.ca Canada's top cops defended the federal government's proposed law that would help investigators track people's online communications, at a news conference in Vancouver Monday. Vancouver police Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke says Bill C-30 provides the safeguards necessary to protect privacy. (CBC)Both the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association say they endorse Bill C-30, a controversial online surveillance bill. Section 17 of the bill outlines the "exceptional circumstances" under which "any police officer" can request an internet service provider (ISP) to turn over customer information without a warrant. "We believe the new legislation will assist police with the necessary tools to investigate crimes while balancing, if not strengthening, the privacy rights for Canadians through the addition of oversight not currently in place," said Vancouver police Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke. "We also need the privacy safeguards to ensure we’re accountable in the use of these tools, and we believe Bill C-30 provides just that." Lemcke said the law would only give police access to subscriber information, and investigators would still need warrants to actually monitor internet communications.

Feb 20, 2012 18:56

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source: cbc.ca

Canada's top cops defended the federal government's proposed law that would help investigators track people's online communications, at a news conference in Vancouver Monday.

Vancouver police Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke says Bill C-30 provides the safeguards necessary to protect privacy. (CBC)Both the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association say they endorse Bill C-30, a controversial online surveillance bill.

Section 17 of the bill outlines the "exceptional circumstances" under which "any police officer" can request an internet service provider (ISP) to turn over customer information without a warrant.

"We believe the new legislation will assist police with the necessary tools to investigate crimes while balancing, if not strengthening, the privacy rights for Canadians through the addition of oversight not currently in place," said Vancouver police Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke.

"We also need the privacy safeguards to ensure we’re accountable in the use of these tools, and we believe Bill C-30 provides just that."

Lemcke said the law would only give police access to subscriber information, and investigators would still need warrants to actually monitor internet communications.

Feb 20, 2012 18:57

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"The global internet, cellular phones and social media have been widely adopted and enjoyed by Canadians, young and old. …These new technologies are also being used as a safe haven for criminal activity — identity theft, child and sexual exploitation, gangs, organized crime and national security threats," he said.

"This is a huge challenge facing law enforcement agencies. We collectively need every reasonable tool to prevent such activity from happening in the first place, and to investigate and lay charges when it does."

Lemcke said the current legislation regarding lawful access was drafted in 1975, long before the existence of the internet and social media.

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