Canada: Access to Information Leaks

From The Star:

When Ken Rubin wanted to know what information Canada planned to share with the United States about airline passengers, as both countries beefed up security after 9/11, he applied under the federal Access to Information Act, as any Canadian has the right to do.

But Canada Border Services Agency officials in early 2004 seemed far more eager to alert Anne McLellan, who was public safety minister at the time, to Rubin's identity and to the possibility of embarrassing media reports, than to process his request, according to a memo he later obtained. That is plain wrong.

And when Canadian Press reporter Jim Bronskill more recently asked for information on Central Intelligence Agency aircraft landing in Canada, his name was shared among government officials during a conference call. Notes were later circulated to other officials, including top aides to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. That is wrong, too.

RSF Cuba Report

RSF has released a new report on Cuba. The report reflects experiences I have had testing the Cuban Internet, very few sites are blocked. The report notes that expensive, restrictive access and slow speed (lack of fibre optic cables due to the US embargo) are the main issues.

This, however, is the first time I've heard of the local software installed on PC's. The software described appears to be some sort of key logger.

One of the things I noticed a lot of people are doing, and it is noted in this RSF report is saving emails in a "draft" folder instead of sending them thinking that it will protect them from electronic surveillance. In most cases it is either irrelevant or not protecting you at all..

Petition Against Unwarranted Surveillance

Online Rights Canada has started a campaign against unwarranted surveillance. Sign it today:

Bill C-74, the Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act, would have allowed law enforcement agencies to obtain identifying information about you without a warrant. Even worse, it would have forced communications providers to build surveillance back-doors into the hardware that routes our phone calls, Internet traffic, and more. Tell the new Parliament not to erode your privacy - sign our petition today!