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In 2013, Edward Snowden and the Guardian newspaper revealed the extent to which the U.S. National Security Agency is able to track someone’s calls, read emails and SMS, hack into a smartphone and computer, and monitor “nearly everything a user does on the Internet” — even web browsing. NSA counterparts in Canada and other “Five Eyes” countries reportedly have similar capabilities or have information sharing agreements with the NSA.

Bill C-51, currently before Parliament, would now “encourage and facilitate” information sharing between Canada’s Communications Security Establishment and nine other Canadian federal government agencies, including Canada Revenue Agency. Information can be shared to protect Canada against activities that “undermine its security.” Such activities do not include “lawful advocacy, protest, dissent and artistic expression.”

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Surely federal government agencies should have the means to protect Canada against terrorism. But the definition of “activities that undermine security” is too broad. It includes those that would “unduly” influence a government by “unlawful” means. Sounds reasonable, eh? But suppose a local whistleblower like Snowden were to give the press a trove of documents pertaining to some domestic policy. Suppose that leak, without revealing any “wrongdoing” as it is restrictively defined in law, made a government look bad in the court of public opinion and compelled it to change policy. Under C-51, such an unlawful act could be construed as a means to “unduly” influence government. Federal government agencies would be allowed to pre-emptively monitor a suspect’s electronic devices and communications, view his tax and financial data. And effectively censor him.