Sun Media

p. 8.

Canada

Bill would up police Net power

The federal government is tackling high-tech terrorists and sexual predators with a controversial bill that would hand police more powers to patrol the Internet.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said cutting-edge communications technologies is of great benefit to Canadians, but it also gives criminals vast new operating ground. Rejecting criticism the bill is too intrusive, he insisted the government has struck the right balance between privacy rights and enhanced public safety.

Proposed legal amendments will require Internet service providers to give basic personal information about clients upon request by police. It also makes it a criminal offence for two people to communicate over the Internet about sexually exploiting a child or to possess a "virus" designed to cause mischief online.

Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan said enforcement powers have not kept pace with fast-evolving technology. He stressed that proposed changes do not alter communication interception powers, but update an antiquated framework that was designed 40 years ago.

– Sun Media