p2pnet - rss feed: Big Brother Sympatico
p2p news / p2pnet: Every day, Canada looks a little more like a mini-America.
Shades of US president George W. Bush’s unauthorised citizen spying activities, Canada’s Bell Sympatico is apparently telling customers it’s getting into the Big Brother business under which customers’ personal information could be handed over to police without a warrant.
In fact, “Customers should expect their online activities to be monitored routinely as part of incoming surveillance legislation,” says an AM640 Toronto report said to be highlighting Sympatico’s new customer service agreement.
The ‘new’ ruling is in fact a re-introduction a Net surveillance bill introduced by the Liberals, but which, “died on the Commons order paper when their minority government fell,” says the Canadian Press.
Bell Sympatico has now warned it intends to, “monitor or investigate content or your use of your service provider’s networks and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy any laws, regulations or other governmental request,” says the story.
But AM640 has Ottawa University’s Dr Michael Geist saying police don’t actually need new spying powers.
“There have been of course, the arrests of the terror cell in Toronto where the internet played a critical role,” Geist states. Be that as it may, the radio reports says he also expects the new Conservative government to revive the Net surveillance bill when parliament returns from its summer recess.
However, a spokeswoman for public safety minister Stockwell Day said no decision has been made on the bill, known as the Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act, says CP, continuing:
“But she noted that Day has spoken to telecom industry officials and legal experts about bringing it forward as early as the fall session. ‘We don’t know if it will be introduced in the fall, winter or spring,’ said Melisa Leclerc. “We’re working on it’.”
(Thanks, Luvie)
==============
UPDATED @ 11:30 am Pacific:
This story originally concluded with: “Sympatico isn’t, of course, purely Canadian. It’s a joint Microsoft, Bell Canada operation launched in 2004 to coincide with the introduction of MSN Premium.”
However, says comment post # 53665 >>>
That’s completely false. First, Sympatico is a brand, not a company. Second, it was launched by Bell Canada ten and a half years ago - without Microsoft.
Bell outsources the Sympatico branded email to MSN.
The two companies launched Sympatico.MSN.ca., as the press statement says
p2pnet apologises for the mistake.
Also See:
citizen spying - Bush attacks The New York Times, June 27, 2006
Canadian Press - Big Brother watching you surf?, June 27, 2006
p2pnet newsfeeds for your site.
rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss
Mobile - http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php
June 28th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
from: Luvie (too lazy to reg myself :/ ):
Sympatico Just released this (on its user forum):
• Misleading news coverage has been made in the news regarding Bell Sympatico customer service agreement suggesting that Sympatico is unlawfully monitoring customer’s accounts.
• This information is misleading and Bell Canada takes customer privacy very seriously.
Bell Canada Position:
Bell Canada has a long and established history of protecting the privacy of its customers. Bell collaborates with law enforcement agencies only when presented with a legitimate court ordered warrants. To suggest that we are illegally or routinely monitoring our customers beyond legislative requirements is inaccurate and false.”
I want to reassure you that Bell Canada is committed in protecting our customer’s privacy. We only work with law enforcements agencies when they have a presented us with a court-ordered warrant. This is consistent across the Internet Service Industries.
June 28th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
However, This makes you wonder why such a huge name as Dr. Michael Geist would be heard commenting on this recent Sympatico news event which was carried on airwaves such as Global, Globe & mail and other province radio shows.
June 28th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
“Sympatico isn’t, of course, purely Canadian. It’s a joint Microsoft, Bell Canada operation launched in 2004 to coincide with the introduction of MSN Premium.”
That’s completely false. First, Sympatico is a brand, not a company. Second, it was launched by Bell Canada ten and a half years ago - without Microsoft.
Bell outsources the Sympatico branded email to MSN.
June 30th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
And here in America, we have had a similar spat with AT&T. Apparently, AT&T updated their privacy policy and it now states that AT&T OWNS your data.
June 30th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
True. AT&T Also did a released saying they respect their customers privacy ect..
But the Globe and Mail is known to make hyped sympatico claims. And an interesting note, Globe and mail is owned by BCE (Bell) which owns sympatico…. Go figure.
what are the enteraining posibilities on this:
1. Its true?
2. Its a hyped Globe and Mail article (wouldn’t be the 1st time)?
Tin foil hat on here…
3. A Bell/Gov leaked story to feel the waters for when/if it happens in the fall (if its debated and passes [new laws], since sympatico is the largest of the ISP’s)?
4. To take the heat away from others bitching about about the sympatico switch to american owned email and subject to the patriot act?
I’m sure alot of theories can come of this…
June 30th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
5. Changing user policy to look like AT&T’s, Cutting usenet service and out-sourcing Email to the states in order to cut down on the data logging whip-lash they would have.
July 2nd, 2006 at 4:18 pm
This is why it is vitally important to set up local muni-nets, freewans, and other such services. It is also of secondary importance to use such services as Tor and Privoxy.
Any infrastructure owned by governments and cartels should be considered higly untrustworthy. If they own it, they can watch it. If one is forced to use cartel or government controlled infrastrure because there are no cooperating people who wish to form freewans or muninets, Then one should use Privoxy and Tor and/or similar privacy protection programs. Thes programs encrypts communications and then routes said communications through multiple computers. Yes, with great effort, it is possible to intercept such communication, however, let’s not make it easier on the enemy.
July 20th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
Since, Sympatico has decided to put in that neat little clause saying they’re watching us, my comedy group decided to make a video of what the “future” of sympatico will look like. Michael Geist who is quoted in the article has posted this on his blog and hopefully more people will see it. It stars everyone’s favourite corporate helper “Agent Emily”. Tell us what you think! Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcP3V9bgUoI
July 9th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
ok i wonder how well ther spying does on a linux user lol