Canadian intel frets over wiretap law
Published: Feb. 18, 2008 at 10:45 AM
OTTAWA, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Canadian intelligence and counter-terror agencies are frustrated by a law that prevents eavesdropping on Canadians abroad, The Globe and Mail reported.
In once-secret reports seen by the newspaper, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service was denied permission last year to wiretap communications by 10 suspected Canadian terrorists working overseas.
Justice Edmond Blanchard ruled he lacked jurisdiction to endorse foreign spying operations by CSIS, although he granted the agency rights to domestic wiretaps on the suspects.
Sen. Colin Kenny, the chairman of the Senate's Committee on National Security and Defense, told the newspaper laws needed changing.
"It's clearly a problem for Parliament to solve," Kenny told The Globe and Mail. "I think it's hugely urgent."
In an e-mail response to the newspaper, U.S. counter-terrorism expert Professor Robert Chesney of Wake Forest University said U.S. agencies can spy on U.S. citizens abroad, under certain circumstances.
In once-secret reports seen by the newspaper, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service was denied permission last year to wiretap communications by 10 suspected Canadian terrorists working overseas.
Justice Edmond Blanchard ruled he lacked jurisdiction to endorse foreign spying operations by CSIS, although he granted the agency rights to domestic wiretaps on the suspects.
Sen. Colin Kenny, the chairman of the Senate's Committee on National Security and Defense, told the newspaper laws needed changing.
"It's clearly a problem for Parliament to solve," Kenny told The Globe and Mail. "I think it's hugely urgent."
In an e-mail response to the newspaper, U.S. counter-terrorism expert Professor Robert Chesney of Wake Forest University said U.S. agencies can spy on U.S. citizens abroad, under certain circumstances.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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A Palestinian refugee Mohamad Harb 85 year Old . shows his old house keys from his former village as a symbol of hope that his may return his one day on May 12, 2008 in his Rafah refugee camp which is located within the Gaza Strip. Harb used to live in the village of Hmamh before his family was forced to immigrate to the Gaza Strip in 1948. After sixty years Harb has hope of returning to his old village which is now in Israeli territory and is named Kreat Hmamh. Traditionally Palestinians commemorate May 15th as Nakba Day or Catastrophe Day, the day the Israeli State was created in 1948.(UPI Photo/Ismael Mohamad)
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