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Bill C-13, colloquially known as the cyberbullying bill, is currently being studied by a parliamentary committee. The term “cyberbullying,” however, is a bit of a misnomer. In a stunning display of political opportunism, the government has trotted out parents whose children have tragically taken their own lives after being bullied online. But nowhere in the bill do the words “cyber” or “bully” actually appear.

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Bill C-13, being studied by the House of Commons justice committee this week, is described by the Conservatives as cyberbullying legislation, but will dramatically expand the reach of police, giving them “the power to remotely hack into computers, mobile devices, or cars in order to track location or record metadata,” according to the director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

Cara Zwibel told Members of Parliament that the changes were “inappropriate.”

Experts say police would be able to install viruses, or malware, into the electronics of anyone suspected of a crime, after gaining judicial approval. The bill expands the definition for “tracking device” and adds the concept of a “transmission data recorder” into the Criminal Code.

The Department of Justice wouldn’t comment on the changes, saying only that “the question of whether one type of software or another could be used is more of an operational consideration.”

At present, if police want a suspect’s data, they need to either obtain a warrant for their cellphone or laptop, or they need to go to the users’ internet or cellphone provider. If they want to track a suspect, they need to get a warrant and attach a GPS device to the suspect’s car or person.