Avaaz Requests Criminal Investigation into 'Stop Fox News North' Petition
Fraud

Turns over fraudulent IP address to RCMP; Raises 100k online to fight Quebecor's smears and legal threats; Prominent lawyer Clayton Ruby takes case

OTTAWA, Sept. 14 /CNW/ - Today, Avaaz requested that the Ottawa Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) begin a criminal investigation to determine the identity of the individual responsible for adding fraudulent signatures from an Ottawa IP address to the organization's "Stop 'Fox News North'" petition. In his letter to law enforcement on behalf of Avaaz, noted civil rights lawyer, Clayton Ruby, called for a full criminal investigation.

On September 2, 2010, Avaaz became aware that an individual operating from an Ottawa IP address was adding both fictional and actual names and email addresses to a petition to stop Prime Minister Harper from pushing biased crony media onto Canadian airwaves. The next morning, Quebecor executive and Sun TV front man Kory Teneycke published several pieces in Quebecor owned newspapers attacking Avaaz and accusing them of running a fraudulent petition - even quoting actual names added by the fraudster. Teneycke later admitted to insider knowledge of both the perpetrator and crimes committed.

Days later, Quebecor threatened to sue Avaaz for the content of its petition site.

"This is how big corporate power tries to silence people's voices, with smear campaigns and expensive lawyers," said Ricken Patel, Executive Director of Avaaz. "Canadians are deeply worried about the poisonous politics of the Sun media empire and will keep fighting their plan to force cable companies to give them access to our cable fees."

Over 80,000 Canadians have signed the petition to stop "Fox News North" and thousands more have donated over $100,000 in just four days to help Avaaz defend itself against Sun TV's attack campaign and its parent company's legal threats.

Avaaz is a global campaigning organization with over 414,000 members in Canada and 5.5 million worldwide.

To request a copy of the letter, contact [email protected].

For more information, visit www.Avaaz.ca.

For further information:

Emma Sachs, [phone], [email protected]