Like a Surveillance Camera in Your Home

Stephen Harper's "lawful access" legislation represents an unprecedented invasion of privacy.

The internet is no longer simply an information revolution; it has become an integral part of our lives, and our increasing reliance on it has become a serious vulnerability. The Canadian government will soon table “lawful access” legislation, which will require internet service providers (ISPs) to record our contact information, set up a constant internet surveillance system, and report specific online exchanges upon request. This information would then be made available to law enforcement officials even if they did not have a court order or a warrant.

When this legislation was initially proposed, Canadian privacy and information commissioners expressed grave concern about the implementation of such drastic measures. They noted that the range of information obtained could exceed that gleaned from a lawful wiretap, and that there were many gaps in the proposed oversight model.

If passed, this law will fundamentally affect our social and personal lives. It’s akin to the government setting up a surveillance camera in our homes that it can turn on whenever it sees fit. The more we use the internet, the greater the chances are that we will be subject to state oversight.

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