National Coordinator with @ICLMG. Opinions are my own.
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Feb 15 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
The @PrivacyPrivee just dropped a new report on the @rcmpgrcpolice's "open source" internet surveillance under Project Wide Awake." Result: Mounties are breaking the law, using 3rd parties to scoop up your private information: 🧵1/7priv.gc.ca/en/opc-actions…
The outright obfuscation & underhandedness of the RCMP to both mislead the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the public, and to evade protections guaranteed under privacy laws, is stunning and infuriating (if not surprising, given the RCMP's previous use of Clearview AI) 2/7
Apr 7, 2022 • 11 tweets • 3 min read
Incredible and important reporting by @MazMHussain about the impact of the US listing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity has had on former Iranian military conscripts. (1/10)
.@ICLMG was approached by a group of Canadian citizens of Iranian descent who served their mandatory military service, sometimes decades ago, who are now facing significant problems because they watchlisted, and blocked from entering or flying over the US. (2/10)
Mar 29, 2022 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
This news raises so many questions and concerns globalnews.ca/news/8719009/t… 1/10
1st, in 2019, CSIS was granted broad new data collection powers including to collect, retain & query datasets in 3 categories: Canadian, Foreign & Publicly Available Information. 2 yrs later, we're being told they need more powers, yet they have never adequately explained... 2/10
Apr 28, 2021 • 8 tweets • 4 min read
Some more incredible - & damning - reporting from @bpcarney about @rcmpgrcpolice#surveillance & #facialrecognition. RCMP officers broke their own internal policies & then hid the use of a "terrorist" facial recognition system contracted from a US firm. thetyee.ca/News/2021/04/2… /1
The system includes a database of 700,000 facial images of alleged "terrorists," but provides no transparency about how they reach that conclusion or on what legal basis the images are collected. Law enforcement can then use the company's facial rec software to compare images. /2
Feb 28, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
I'm really glad to see articles like this raising the question of how we apply terrorism charges in Canada. There is a clear & fundamental problem with which crimes are labeled "terrorism", when racist mass murders don't qualify but the murder of an individual w/ a hammer does.
But it also raises the question of whether the solution is labeling more acts as "terrorist" or whether we should be questioning that label, & Canada's terrorism laws, for being fraught with politics and subjectiveness...
Sep 8, 2019 • 17 tweets • 3 min read
Thank you to the authors of this piece for speaking out. It's so important that there is a national debate about the impacts of Canada's ongoing national security focus on Muslim and Arab communities thestar.com/opinion/contri…
The criticisms of this piece have been quick and predictable. One theme is that people do not understand how CSIS & intelligence and national security investigations work.
Jul 18, 2019 • 12 tweets • 7 min read
Yesterday marked an important day for review of Canada's national security activities: The new National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) came into existence. newswire.ca/news-releases/…#c59#cdnpoli 1/12
For the first time, there will be an overarching review agency that can examine the activities of all National Security agencies, including CSIS, RCMP, CSE, CBSA, Global Affairs & more. This is in contrast to the siloed approach until now: CRCC for RCMP, SIRC for CSIS, etc. 2/12
Jul 15, 2019 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
We at @ICLMG spoke out against the new Entry/Exit program, which is now coming into force. It allows Canada Border Services to collect the information of everyone who leaves Canada by land to the US cbc.ca/news/canada/br…@ICLMG The new rules means Canada will be collecting and retaining new information about millions of travellers to the US every year. This raises serious concerns about how this information it protected, and how it may be used (or misused). #cdnpoli 2/5
Jul 11, 2019 • 7 tweets • 6 min read
Good piece from @TomWalkom. It's true: we shouldn't be surprised that groups that challenge power, status quo, are spied on. Also important to remember that this doesn't mean we shouldn't push back on that surveillance,... thestar.com/opinion/star-c…#cdnpoli#protestpapers 1/7
...speak out about its impact on our rights, and demand accountability and transparency. @BCCLA, @PaulChampLaw and all the groups involved are doing such important work on this front. #cdnpoli#protestpapers 2/7
May 13, 2019 • 15 tweets • 7 min read
I live tweeted today's committee study of Bill #C59. Policy nerds will love it, but if you want the abridged version of what amendments actually carried, here you go:
1. In section 13 of the Intelligence Commissioner Act: A provision was added to allow the IC to refer an authorization back to the Minister with proposed conditions. From what I understand, applies only in the case of CSE foreign intelligence authorizations. #C59
May 13, 2019 • 75 tweets • 23 min read
At the @SenateCA national security and defence committee meeting, where they are doing clause-by-clause of Bill #C59. #cdnpoli#cdnnatsec
Part 1 of the Act, the new National Security and Intelligence Review Agency, has passed without amendment from the committee. #C59
While folding review of the CBSA into the existing RCMP civilian watchdog may be effective, the lack of consultation and details is troubling. And the likelihood of this being passed before the fall election seems close to nil. cbc.ca/news/politics/…#cdnpoli
As per @Safety_Canada backgrounder, new body will be called the "Public Complaints and Review Commission" & will replace the @rcmpgrcpolice Civilian Review and Complaints Commission. Full legislation still not up online, tho. canada.ca/en/public-safe…#cdnpoli
Packed room for today's @SenateCA National Security and Defense committee's first hearing on Bill #C59. Will try and share updates throughout
First up, as per custom, is Public Safety Minister @RalphGoodale#c59#cdnpoli
Apr 8, 2019 • 9 tweets • 7 min read
Following months of criticism and a recent letter from @theJagmeetSingh and @MattDube, @RalphGoodale has finally acted on the troubling language used in the "2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada" canada.ca/en/public-safe… 1/8 #cdnpoli#natsec
It also comes a day before the release of the public version of a report looking at how national intelligence priorities are determined in Canada. 2/8 #cdnpoli#natsec
Apr 8, 2019 • 8 tweets • 4 min read
The new National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarian's first annual report will be released publicly tomorrow, with a particular focus on "the shadowy business of military intelligence" cbc.ca/news/politics/…#cdnpoli
Also of particular interest will be the other issue they are studying: how the Government of Canada establishes national intelligence priorities. There have been very public criticisms of this process in the past two years... 2/7 #cdnpoli
Jun 21, 2018 • 6 tweets • 4 min read
This response from the director of #CSIS to the latest review of its activities is mind-boggling: canada.ca/en/security-in…#SIRC#C59#cdnpoli
He defends actions by CSIS that the review committee finds is at odds with current laws by saying the agency is preparing for Bill #C59... which isn't even a law yet. #cdnpoli
Jun 21, 2018 • 12 tweets • 5 min read
I haven't had a chance to read the entire #SIRC report on #CSIS myself yet, but the issues revealed just in this CBC article from @cattunneycbc are highly concerning, to say the least: cbc.ca/news/politics/…#cdnpoli 1/12
First, timing: It's impossible not to note that this report, which could have had a direct impact on the debate on Bill #C59, was released the day after the bill passed 3rd reading and was sent to the Senate. It will remain important for the debates this Fall, though. 2/12
Apr 25, 2018 • 118 tweets • 40 min read
10 minutes late to #SECU and it's moving fast. Catching up. For those following, clause 109 of #c59#cdnpoli
Conservative motion, similar to with #CSE, asking #CSIS to report annually on the costs incurred due to oversight. Both #NDP & #Liberals argue that this creates a new administrative burden. #NDP argues could be used to try & undermine new review & oversight bodies
Apr 24, 2018 • 122 tweets • 32 min read
Good morning from the Public Safety Committee study of Bill #C59. Four hour marathon meeting. We'll see how much of the 90 pages or so left MPs get through today. #cdnpoli#hw#SECU
Conservative motion to remove the requirement that the Minister of National Defence must consult with the Minister of Foreign Affairs when the #CSE engages in active (offensive) cyber operations. Conservatives argue that this will hinder ability of Minister of Defence to act #C59
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