OTTAWA, Aug. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada is worried that if New York-based Verizon Communications takes over Canada's telecommunications it will pass Canadians' personal data to US intelligence agencies.
In recent weeks it has come to light that Verizon has been working intimately with the US National Security Agency (NSA) to collect the personal information of millions of its US customers. Reportedly, the company has even built a dedicated fiber-optic line running from New Jersey to a military base in Virginia to transfer all communications flowing through its operations centre to US authorities.
"It's long been accepted that there are privacy and national security concerns with foreign companies controlling Canada's telecommunications sector," says CEP President Dave Coles. "With Verizon so deeply tied to US intelligence agencies these concerns should be upgraded to code red alert status."
"If asked by US authorities for the personal information of Canadian subscribers Verizon would have ample reason to fulfill the request," says Coles. "The company's core business is dependent on Federal Communications Commission regulations, it has billions of dollars in US military contracts and Verizon is bound to comply with the US Patriot Act and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act."
After the Conservatives announced they were looking to open the sector up to foreign telecom providers, Public Safety Canada privately warned Industry Canada that the plan poses a "considerable risk" to national security. According to a Feb. 25, 2011 letter marked "secret" that Daniel Lavoie, a senior official with Public Safety, sent to Industry Canada, "The security and intelligence community is of the view that lessening or removing restrictions from the Telecommunications Act, without implementing mitigation measures, would pose a considerable risk to public safety and national security."
"What's Public Safety's private assessment of a potential Verizon takeover of Canada's telecommunications? The Conservatives needs to be forthcoming with Canadians on this issue," says Coles.
"Verizon has been caught spying on the Communications Workers of America, selling marketers disturbingly detailed information on its subscribers and it even charges the US government $500 a month for each wiretap it places on its customers," says Coles. "This gives a whole new meaning to Verizon's 'share everything' plan."
SOURCE: Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
Dave Coles, 613-299-5628
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