Expert on Ottawa’s social media snooping:
State surveillance expert Christopher Parsons shares his concerns over the way Ottawa collects information from social media
I look like junk (it was a long day and other variables before the taping) but I think I made some pertinent points, at least.
My recent interview with Jesse Brown about the disclosure of user data by telecommunications companies to the governments of Canada, why this is occurring, and how Canadians can learn if their telecom companies are sharing personal information with government agencies.
We can’t let phone companies determine our privacy rights:
Acting Privacy Commissioner Chantal Bernier is correct that we need more transparency in relation to the extent to which our telecoms co-operate with the state. But real accountability requires more than this. It requires legal standards that offer protection. It requires limits on how much of our privacy rights can be taken away by the one-sided, non-negotiated actions of companies we rely on for essential services.
The warrantless access question is currently before the Supreme Court of Canada in a case called R v Spencer. Let’s hope that they pause at least every 27 seconds and think about what’s at stake.
Lisa Austin and Andrea Slane on the need to inhibit of authorities’ warrantless access to subscriber data in Canada.
Stage tickets for tomorrow’s surveillance debate!
Canada’s privacy commissioner says she has no idea how often telecom companies share consumers’ personal information, despite repeated requests for such information from Canada’s telecom giants. After an appearance before the Senate committee on transportation and communications Tuesday, Interim Privacy Commissioner Chantal Bernier said cell phone and internet companies are refusing to release details on the practice.
It is beyond disappointing that Canada’s telecoms have decided to treat Canadians’ personal information without even basic regards for Canadian privacy law (which includes being transparent, accountable, and open about how personal information is collected, retained, managed, and disclosed). What’s worse is that most Canadians seem bemused when officers of parliament, academics, reporters, and similarly interested groups try to learn this information, with many Canadians seemingly believing that the telecoms are (effectively) beyond the law and that it’s a fool’s errand to try and bring them into compliance.
Source: Telecoms’ tight lips on customer data use leaves privacy watchdog in the dark
Definitely one of the better (and more accessible) discussions of Bill C-13, aka the federal government of Canada’s lawful-access-in-disguise-legislation. Of note: that piece of legislation is “now under a time allocation order that will likely see it sent to committee by mid-week.” If the Committee is rushed, then it’s entirely plausible the legislation could be passed into law before this session of parliament closes for the summer.
Researchers have discovered a serious security flaw known as the “Heartbleed” bug in the software commonly used by thousands of Websites to encrypt and secure sensitive data being transmitted across the Internet
This was an absolute gift to intelligence agencies all over the world. And one that was – and is – being widely exploited in the wild by criminals and other unauthorized third-parties.
Source: Heartbleed bug found in key encryption technology risks exposing private data
Soon, there will be no way to escape the boss’ urgent email, even if you’re on a plane, as Air Canada announces deal to bring Wi-Fi to the skies.
Not only will you not be able to evade your boss but, given that Air Canada has partnered with GoGo, you’ll also be subject to unnecessarily broad state interception technologies. Air Canada: fly for the high prices, stay for the corporate-enabled excessive state surveillance!
Canadian spy agency head John Forster fielded questions from MPs, and says organization’s focus is foreign intelligence collection, not domestic
Takeaway from the article? CSEC boss “can’t really disclose” what kinds of access it could have to data flowing through Bell, Rogers and Telus.
Excited Pixels