US not only "Big Brother(ed)" Country - Canada Also

[tyger_claw]

Hey All,

Was watching CBCSunday (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and saw a news piece about how the Canadian Government seems to be crumbling under the threat of internal terrorism (9/11), much like the United States are. While the US Government is trying to pass the [utl=http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland/bill/index.html]Homeland Security Act[/url] (Under Bush's own proposal - Which is illegal under the Privacy Act of 1974), Canadian Government is looking to do the similar.

It appears that the Government is trying to pass some sort of Bill which would allow the monitoring of people entering and leaving the country. Source Not only would they monitor, but build a database of information, as well as tap communications via e-mail and cellphone. Source

Thankfully, Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski is fighting for the privacies and freedoms for the Canadian Citizens and it's visitors. One thing that both countries, US and Canada hold dear, and with pride, is our Freedom and Privacy.

US Source - 2600.com

[powertoad5000]

While the US Government is trying to pass the Homeland Security Act

afaik, The bill has already been passed. edit: Bush signed it just today.

There needs to be a balance maintained between 'security/safety' and 'privacy'. However, it seems that the balance post-9/11 is upset, swinging in favour of 'security'. It's easy for politicians to pass anything these days, simply by saying 'it's for the safety of the nation/it's to protect against terrorism'.

Here's an article on how John Ashcroft has 'succeeded' in his attempts to further eliminate privacy:

Secret U.S. court OKs electronic spying

In an unexpected and near-complete victory for law enforcement, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review overturned a lower court's decision and said that Attorney General John Ashcroft's request for new powers was reasonable.

The 56-page ruling removes procedural barriers for federal agents conducting surveillance under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The law, enacted as part of post-Watergate reforms, permits sweeping electronic surveillance, telephone eavesdropping and surreptitious searches of residences and offices.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, Ashcroft applauded the ruling, characterizing it as a "victory for liberty, safety and the security of the American people."

Good to see that you've got someone in Canada who's attempting to quash proposals like this. Here's hoping that Canada doesn't follow in the US' footsteps when it comes to privacy.

[americo100]

If your dad died from drowning don’t stopping drinking water because water is good for you. The same applies to those bills just because 9/11 happened does not mean that there should be less freedom and privacy not only for US citizens but for the rest of world peaceful people.

People like Osama don’t use any form of electronic communication anymore. Only people peaceful people like us use it.

So, I hope that they will not drown with too much information and that in the future there will be more freedom in China than US.

[bludgeon]

I'm with you guys, I hope Canada doesn't follow suit and pass a similar bill. As if the anti-privacy issues weren't enough, we have to fill everything with pork. . .
http://www.msnbc.com/news/836859.asp
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/art...oorekerpen.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...ybill-usat.htm
http://www.freep.com/voices/letters/...1_20021121.htm

You'd think such a serious issue wouldn't be clutter with politics, but ohh no, can't be that way. . .that would make too much sense.

[Tedob1]

it makes absolutly no sense at all to distroy a way of life to protect it.

unfortunatly when folks discover this really isn't what they wanted, it'll be to late to do anything about it.

[Syini666]

americo100 > actually everyone uses electronic communication these days. Cell phones are especially useful because they arent too easy to track yet. In all likelyhood Al Qaeda (sp?) is probably communicating in the open, because after all the best place to hide something is in plain sight.

[nabylbt]

I don't think that al quaeda (sp?) is using cell phone for their activities... they couldn't be that stupid. They already know what echeclon is and what the NSA can do...remember bin laden was trained by the cia and i'm sure they taught him what secured transmition is.
Now they question is did he kept up with the technology or is he jsut reading about this stuff right now ?

[forn28]

Originally posted here by Syini666
americo100 > actually everyone uses electronic communication these days. Cell phones are especially useful because they arent too easy to track yet. In all likelyhood Al Qaeda (sp?) is probably communicating in the open, because after all the best place to hide something is in plain sight.

I really like this one!!! By standing in the open not means sending sensitive information in a easy way to understand. Steganography is a great way to hide in the open.

If you want the NSA to investigate on your communication, encrypt it. It will look suspicious. Don't encrypt your communication, nobody will be interest in it, beacause it doesn't look secret.

[tyger_claw]

What I find bizare is that instead of fixing what needs to be done, the governments are destroying what we have to "rebuild" from the ground up, losing much of what we had.

Our freedoms aren't a bulding, it's not like you can take an eraser and write in what you want. (Although Bush seems to think so).

I also heard that Canada was thinking of having everyone have an Identification of sorts, either it being an ID Card with UPC Barcode, or an even more "secure" yet extreme system, bio card, which would have a bio sample from you which readers could figure. (ouch!)

Next thing you know, we'll have chips in our hands like Demolition Man.

[ebo]

The people that are visiting,coming to saty, or leaving the country, not all of them will have their privacy invaded. We can almost see the crowd of people that this Bill is going to be concentrating on more than any other people. If and Arabic man and a White, Black, Or and other race man leave the country at the same time, or come into the country, we all know that the Arabic man will draw most of the attention, and will be constantly watched on in communication. While this is going on the black, white, or any other race man can be out there planning a big terroism act. My points is that this law will not only affect and upset many people, but will make the Arabic people feel really uncomfortable. That is not what this country was made to be, People are supposed to come here and feel like they are secured and have their privacy. Instead, people will enter this country wondering, who could be listening to their conversation or reading their e-mail. -ebo