Canada's Move to Suppress Bloggers

Recently, I've been feeling envious of America's Northern neighbor. Canada has better schools and health programs than we Californians have.  They have a diverse, growing and active blogging community, and oh yeah, they seem to have wisdom on what wars to stay out of.

Now, my friend Curt over at the Committee to Protect Bloggers, says that all Canada's decency will not extend to bloggers. An op ed piece soon to be published in Montreal's French language press next month, Canada has introduced legislation designed to allow authorities to act with impunity against bloggers and others writing online.

This month Bill C-74 was introduced to Canada's parliament. If adopted, the legislation would do away with the need for warrants and would force internet service providers to hand over subscriber information including names, addresses, IP addresses, telephone numbers and cellphone numbers, on the written request of any law enforcement official.

Please note that at this point, this is proposed legislation.  It has not been passed, and I have no idea if it has any chance of it. In the U.S., every year, Congressional representatives introduce all sorts of lame ideas that get spiked by the wisdom of the Congressional crowd. Of course some of it becomes unjust new laws.

I hope this is not the case in Canada.

Comments

[Darren]

Can you demonstrate that this legislation is targeted at bloggers?

I concur that it's a blow to Canadian's privacy, but Canadian law enforcement has much bigger, flashier fish to fry than bloggers. It's hubris to believe otherwise.

[shel Israel]

Darren,

I just picjed up on what Curt had posted. I consider him a credible source. Darren, you are Canadian, and much closer to this issue than I am. Please enlighten me.

[/pd]

Bill C-74 is being monitored carefully. Dr.Cory ( of boing boing fame) has written about this. Lessing ,law professor of harvard is also watchingn ( I think).

Its a miniture version of the patriot bill directly effecting isp's.

Current laws permit law enforcement agnecy call dfor wiretaps, logs etc where the judge dictates a provisioning because a set of relable cause has been established.

Bill C-74 is subject to a due dilgence process. Which may or may not constitue infrigment of privacy and/or a process that fringes civil rights.

Disclaimer: I am only stating opionion - mine only !! Factoids will follow as a complete rebuttal.