Blog for E-freedom Day six

I really love getting  fact vs myth letters from politicians who don't bother to read the legislation they are trying to ram through. Who get pummeled in the media, and then as some sort of confidence gesture send out a letter to all the people who signed a petition opposing the legislation. Am I supposed to go "Oh I did not know that Vic, I guess I shot my mouth off prematurely."  This type of condescending chain mail... seriously folks shows how inferior this government really thinks you are.  I wish he would just stop, this no longer makes me angry, Its like a twister groveling for acknowledgment, in superficial sincerity. It's just making me nauseous now.

Thank you for contacting my office regarding Bill C-30, the Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act.

I didn't contact your office inquiring about the bill  I signed a petition against it!

Canada's laws currently do not adequately protect Canadians from online exploitation and we think there is widespread agreement that this is a problem.

Yes Vic "YOU THINK"  98% 0f Canadians polled don't.  This is your own private war 

We want to update our laws while striking the right balance between combating crime and protecting privacy.

The laws as they stand now are adequate   

Let me be very clear: the police will not be able to read emails or view web activity unless they obtain a warrant issued by a judge and we have constructed safeguards to protect the privacy of Canadians, including audits by privacy commissioners. 

So you still haven't got to that special circumstances section yet I see

What's needed most is an open discussion about how to better protect Canadians from online crime. We will therefore send this legislation directly to Parliamentary Committee for a full examination of the best ways to protect Canadians while respecting their privacy.

In private by a room full of Conservatives!  How about putting it to a public vote?

For your information, I have included some myths and facts below regarding Bill C-30 in its current state.

Your version of the content of the bill does make it fact, only your interpreting of it.

In-Sincerely,

Vic Toews

Member of Parliament for Provencher

Myth: Lawful Access legislation infringes on the privacy of Canadians.

Fact: Our Government puts a high priority on protecting the privacy of law-abiding Canadians. Current practices of accessing the actual content of communications with a legal authorization will not change. 

Myth: Having access to basic subscriber information means that authorities can monitor personal communications and activities.

Fact: This has nothing to do with monitoring emails or web browsing.  Basic subscriber information would be limited to a customer’s name, address, telephone number, email address, Internet Protocol (IP) address, and the name of the telecommunications service provider. It absolutely does not include the content of emails, phones calls or online activities.

Myth: This legislation does not benefit average Canadians and only gives authorities more power.

Fact:  As a result of technological innovations, criminals and terrorists have found ways to hide their illegal activities. This legislation will keep Canadians safer by putting police on the same footing as those who seek to harm us.

Myth: Basic subscriber information is way beyond “phone book information”.

Fact: The basic subscriber information described in the proposed legislation is the modern day equivalent of information that is in the phone book. Individuals frequently freely share this information online and in many cases it is searchable and quite public.

Myth: Police and telecommunications service providers will now be required to maintain databases with information collected on Canadians.

Fact: This proposed legislation will not require either police or telecommunications service providers to create databases with information collected on Canadians.

Myth: “Warrantless access” to customer information will give police and government unregulated access to our personal information.

Fact: Federal legislation already allows telecommunications service providers to voluntarily release basic subscriber information to authorities without a warrant. This Bill acts as a counterbalance by adding a number of checks and balances which do not exist today, and clearly lists which basic subscriber identifiers authorities can access.