A controversial bill would not compromise the internet privacy rights of Canadians and does not permit law enforcement to arbitrarily monitor online activity, according to a statement from Public Safety Minister Vic Toew's office a day after a series of commercials were released criticizing the proposal.

Vancouver-based communications watchdog agency, OpenMedia.ca, launched three PSA-style videos yesterday online warning Canadians about Bill C-52, a proposed bill that would allow authorities to access their private computer information without a warrant.

According to OpenMedia.ca, the bill would allow Internet service providers to give police access to user information, including addresses, phone numbers and information from their IP address. This information includes websites they have visited and people they have talked to online – all without a warrant.

Following a non-confidence vote against Prime Minister Stephen Harper's then-minority government in March this year, Parliament was dissolved and the bill died.

But after the Conservatives won a majority government on June 2 in the federal election it was announced that they would be introducing an omnibus crime bill – which includes the electronic surveillance provisions -- within 100 days.

Lindsey Pinto, the communications manager for OpenMedia.ca, said that the crime bill encompasses so many different laws and amendments which make it easier to slip in the online security provisions.

"There are so many things that need to be gone over – most of all, section 16 which deals with the warrantless search – they need to remove it from the crime bill and let the public properly scrutinize what it allows," said Pinto.

But the government refutes the claims and said that the legislation was not meant to target Canadian Internet users but investigate serious crimes such as terrorism.

"The Government of Canada is committed to the safety and security of Canadians and their communities. This includes protecting them from those who would use new communications technology to pursue criminal or terrorist activities," said the statement emailed to CTV News after a story about the PSAs was published Thursday.

But Pinto said that by making the information so readily available it leaves it open to abuse.

"It opens the door and gives them access to the information." said Pinto. "Not getting court orders has never been an impediment in these investigations and there are provisions in the law that allow for emergency warrants if necessary."

In one of the videos, a woman answers her phone and is approached by a police officer who grabs the phone and listens in to the conversation. In another, the police officer is found in an apartment rummaging through the fridge. All the videos end with the statement, "you wouldn't let a police officer do this without a warrant."



