MORE GOVERNMENT ATTACKS ON CITIZENS

Last Saturday's Woolwich Observer (Sat. Feb. 18/12) carrys the following Opinion piece by Steve Kannon: "Government attacking your privacy with Bill C-30". Mr. Kannon continues his defence of the public with this report. "With Bill C-30, what it calls, The Protecting Children From Internet predators Act, the Conservatives hope to strip away our basic civil liberties, hitting us with a huge-but as yet undisclosed- bill in the process". Further Mr. Kannon states "The so-called lawful access legislation tabled by Public Safety minister Vic Toews would give police the right to demand personal information-your name, phone number, IP addresses, surfing habits and the like-from Internet service providers without a warrant. It would also force ISP's to install expensive hardware and software to provide real-time surveillance of all their customers, turning that information over to police on a whim." Privacy experts across Canada including both the Federal Privacy Commissioner and all the Provincial Privacy Commissioners have roundly condemned this proposed legislation. That alone should give any government pause to seriously reconsider. The possibilities of turning this into Big Bother is watching you or into a Police State are far too easy. The possibilities will also be greatly exacerbated of our governments using this data against legitimate activists or opponents. The ability of money, governments and business to abuse dissenting private citizens should be lessened not increased as this legislation could do.