The State of Privacy Laws and Privacy-Encroaching Technologies after September 11: A Two-Year Report Card on the Canadian Government
19 Pages Posted: 2 Jun 2005
Abstract
This article offers a tentative evaluation of the Canadian government's surveillance practices in the wake of 9/11. A review of empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that state agents are not generally subjecting Canadians to overly intrusive surveillance practices, although select areas of potentially abusive state actions have become known. The article concludes by giving the Canadian government a C+ for its surveillance practices and use of privacy-encroaching technologies of surveillance. To obtain better grades, the government should develop more public accountability mechanisms, such as an independent oversight committee to monitor potential abuses.
Keywords: Technology, privacy, internet, cyberlaw, surveillance, terrorism
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