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If C-13 passes, the only thing standing between their will to obtain our very private data and them actually getting it will be the magnanimity of private corporations and the ethical restraint of police.

But just as the activities of the acrobatic superhero were compromised by an alien parasite in the comic books, privacy advocates are stepping in here. They aren’t quite convinced that Canadian law enforcement can be trusted with broad, indiscriminate powers that are not subject to a paper trail.

No judge ever has to know about these requests, and the Privacy Commissioner is never informed about them. They don’t even need to be in writing.

The bill, C-13, also provides legal immunity to companies that surrender your personal information. While they already hand over that data pretty often — we really have no idea how often, or who does it, or what information they provide — the immunity is only bound to make it worse.

The bill also removes language requiring that data be requested only under the auspices of an investigation. Now all you need is a tingling in your Spidey Sense and a phone.

“What’s the harm?” wondered the parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice, Bob Dechert.

“The harm is done when the Charter is breached,” Spratt responded.

Personally, I don’t want anyone — whether it’s David Wilks or Spider-Man — having easy access to my information without a warrant. It’s bad enough as it is. If this bill gets adopted, finding a nice off-the-grid cabin in the woods might be in the cards for those of us uncomfortable with Dudley Do-Right doing what he wants without court oversight.