Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Harper government backs down on plans to eavesdrop on travellers’ conversations

The Harper government has backed off on plans to install listening devices at Canadian airports and border crossings amid serious concerns about privacy.

The decision by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on Tuesday to halt the practice of eavesdropping on travellers’ conversation follows a backlash from both federal and provincial privacy officials.

This is the second time that Toews has had to climb down on issues of privacy. The last time was the Internet surveillance bill. As with the last time, he defended the move but then had to do an about-face.

The Star confirmed Monday that the federal privacy commissioner’s office had not even received a Privacy Impact Assessment regarding Canada Border Services Agency’s plan to introduce audio-video monitoring at Canadian airports.

“The recording of conversations obviously constitutes a privacy intrusion. We would want the CBSA to demonstrate the necessity for it. In addition, should the measure be deemed necessary, CBSA would have to demonstrate that it has proper safeguards to manage the information, proper compliance mechanisms and appropriate oversight,” a spokesperson for the federal privacy commissioner said.

Ontario Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian said Monday while it is federal jurisdiction, she was no less taken aback that the Canada Border Services Agency was installing high-definition cameras and microphones with eventual plans to record what people are saying as they pass through certain areas of international airports and land crossings. “I just find that appalling,” Cavoukian said.

Julie Carmichael, a spokesperson for Toews, said Canadians made it clear they weren’t happy with the idea of having their conversations monitored.

Carmichael said Toews directed the CBSA to halt audio monitoring until a Privacy Impact Assessment can be submitted, and recommendations from the privacy commissioner can be reviewed by the government.

Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Richard J. Brennan

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