VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Some are calling it "lawful" access while critics call it warrantless, invasive, costly, and poorly thought-out. There's now a plan to force phone and
Internet providers to surrender our personal information to "authorities" without a warrant.
Steve Anderson, founder of
OpenMedia.ca, says this portion of a larger crime bill will also be costly. "It's another thing to have to pay for your privacy to be violated."
"This will cost Internet service providers and others millions of dollars in online surveillance technology," he adds. "That cost will be somehow passed on to us either as taxpayers or consumers."
Right now, police can get access to online information, but they need a warrant.
"Let's say your neighbour thinks there is something suspicious going on in your house," Anderson suggests. "[If this goes through,] they don't need to go through a process to verify that... the police can just go ahead and get your information."
Click here to find the petition opposing Internet surveillance.
UBC Internet security expert calls the plan dangerous.
Richard Rosenberg with the
BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association believes people should speak out against this.
"Over the telephone, if police want to listen to your conversations, they have to convince the judge there's merit," he explains. "Here, we're saying because the Internet is such a rapidly-changing technology, police are burdeoned if they can't act by getting information about you over the Internet.
Rosenberg tells us if the so-called "Internet spying" bill passes, Internet providers will will have to upgrade ISP's and search engines to monitor, store, retain, and disclose e-mail, Internet, and telephone communications.
He says people have to seriously think about whether they are okay with giving up their privacy on the off-chance that if they don't, society could be in danger.