Democratic rights under threat right at our door

Ottawa wants to mandate internet service providers to install more surveillance equipment to monitor their customers online activities. There has been much speculation about the case studies conducted to ensure that the government will generate a strong case for the tighter restrictions on online content.

“Vancouver-based advocacy group OpenMedia.ca published details of an internal Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) email message to its members who represent more than 90% of the country’s police community. The message, OpenMedia says, asks CACP members to provide examples, even those with “confidential operational information,” of investigations thwarted by Canada’s privacy legislation”.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/technology/Feds+want+more+online+police+surveillance/6019094/story.html#ixzz1jyRv3Qzz

The problem with such legislation is that it strips away the rights of the majority, in order to prevent the “minority” from imposing harm on the public. As the Conservative member said, “Rather than making things easier for child pornographers and organized criminals, we call on all Canadians to support these balanced measures,” she said. However, when do we draw the line? When is it intolerable for the government to overstep their authority in ensuring that we are not “harmed”? When is the infringement on our right to expectation of privacy justified and when is it not? It is a slippery slope that can only be prevented through the engagement of the citizens and the awareness.