Civil liberties group seeks to have parts of online surveillance law struck down

OTTAWA – The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is challenging the constitutionality of a federal privacy law that allows private companies to disclose personal information to the government without a warrant.

The challenge comes amid revelations that telecommunications service providers have been disclosing private customer information to government agencies on a broad scale.

In its application to the Ontario Superior Court, the association says law enforcement may have a need for some personal information, but the current law is too broad and should be struck down.

The association says the consequences of allowing government to access and share personal information without the person’s knowledge or consent can be very serious and violate fundamental constitutional rights.

It says the law lacks transparency and its accountability mechanisms fall short of what’s needed.

The suit asks that parts of the law, known as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, be struck down as violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.