KILLING INTERNET PRIVACY, By Liz Rowley, Ontario leader of the Communist Party

(The following editorial is from the July 1-31, 2009, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)
By Liz Rowley, Ontario leader of the Communist Party

People's Voice Editorial

In the latest move to impose police state tactics, the Harper government wants to give police wide access to snoop on Canadians. Introduced on June 18, Bills C-46 and C-47 would allow police to access information on Internet subscribers, such as name, street address and e-mail address, all without a search warrant. If adopted, the legislation will force Internet service providers to freeze data on hard drives to prevent subscribers under investigation from deleting evidence. Telecommunications companies would have to invest in technology enabling them to intercept all the Internet communications they handle. Police would be allowed to remotely activate tracking devices already embedded in cell phones and certain cars, and to obtain data about where Internet communications are coming from and going to.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson claims that police forces need "21st century tools" to deal with changing times. But there is no evidence of any need to gut civil liberties. Police forces already have the option to seek a judge's warrant to monitor communications. If you aren't alarmed yet, consider this: suppose the Tories moved to allow police to intercept any mail sent to your home, copy the contents, reseal the envelopes, and finish the delivery. How is unchecked email snooping any different?

In essence, this legislation is based on the assumption that Canadians are all potentially criminals who must be closely monitored, with no fundamental right to engage in private, confidential communications. In the name of the so-called "war on terror" and "war on drugs," many governments are going down this terrifying road, and not just in the United States. For example, Sweden's intelligence bureau is now allowed to track "sensitive" words in international phone calls, faxes and e-mails without a court order.

C-46 and C-47 are further steps on the path to fascism. This legislation must be defeated when Parliament reconvenes!