Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino provided few details when questioned on Aug. 8 about his knowledge of the RCMP’s use of spyware technology capable of remote installation and surveillance on Canadians’ personal devices.
Appearing before the House of Commons Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, Mendicino was hesitant to give direct answers to questions about the RCMP’s possible circumvention of obtaining warrants necessary to use the technology, and about the agency’s lack of transparency with Canada’s Privacy Commissioner, Philippe Dufresne, in using the software.
Testifying ahead of Mendicino, Dufresne said he was unaware of the RCMP’s use of the spyware until he learned about it from the media. He further said the agency did not consult with him prior to implementing the software about possible privacy infringements the software could pose for Canadians….