Given the recent denial of service attacks by the group Anonymous in response to the fallout from WikiLeaks» activities, one player in which was all of 16 years old, there is good cause for concern — and, I'd say, some scepticism about the likelihood that anything approaching real security can be achieved, even with the passing of laws
giving new investigative powers to police and the supporting of international treaties on digital security.
With respect to Recommendation 4 in the Report, which addresses investigative powers, the working group has failed to make any compelling case for the need
for new investigative powers other than preservation demands.
The enactment amends the Criminal Code to
add new investigative powers in relation to computer crime and the use of new technologies in the commission of crimes.
The European Commission is about to gain
a new investigative power through the Single Market Information Tool (SMIT).
The enactment also amends the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to make some of
the new investigative powers being added to the Criminal Code available to Canadian authorities executing incoming requests for assistance and to allow the Commissioner of Competition to execute search warrants under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.