Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada, U.S. launch talks on data-sharing deal

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Mar, 2022 10:13 AM
  • Canada, U.S. launch talks on data-sharing deal

WASHINGTON - Canada and the United States have started talking about ways to make it easier for law enforcement officials in either country to navigate stringent privacy laws when investigating criminal activity.

The two countries have started working towards an agreement that would compel internet service providers to hand over private data when it's deemed to be part of an investigation.

The framework for the talks is the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act, or CLOUD, passed in the U.S. in 2018 in an effort to ease access to evidence while protecting civil liberties.

Today's announcement is part of a cross-border crime forum taking place this week in the U.S. capital with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Justice Minister David Lametti.

It's the first meeting of the forum in a decade, resurrected by the Canada-U.S. "road map" for bilateral co-operation agreed to last February by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland says a new data-sharing deal would enhance public safety and security while protecting privacy and civil liberties in both countries.

"Such an agreement, if finalized and approved, would pave the way for more efficient cross-border disclosures of data between the United States and Canada so that our governments can more effectively fight serious crime, including terrorism," Garland said in a statement.

"By increasing the effectiveness of investigations and prosecutions of serious crime ... we seek to enhance the safety and security of citizens on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border."

Mendicino and Lametti took part in the talks along with Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

A summary of the meeting says they discussed working together to defend against ransomware attacks and to "freeze and seize" Russian assets as part of North America's economic countermeasures against Vladimir Putin's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Foreign policy experts have been warning for weeks that U.S. efforts to sanction Russia would likely lead to a ramp-up in foreign cyberattacks on American infrastructure, a possibility Biden himself flagged publicly on Monday.

"My administration has issued renewed warnings that, based on evolving intelligence, Russia may be planning a cyberattack against us," Biden told business leaders.

"The magnitude of Russia's cyber capacity is fairly consequential, and it's coming."

The four leaders also talked about efforts to push back against human trafficking and smuggling across the Canada-U.S. border, as well as plans to target the flow of illegal guns between the two countries.

MORE National ARTICLES

Homicide team probes fatal shooting in Abbotsford

Homicide team probes fatal shooting in Abbotsford
 The victim is identified as 41-year-old Chad Colivas. 

Homicide team probes fatal shooting in Abbotsford

Opposition call for transparent COVID decisions

Opposition call for transparent COVID decisions
Conservative and NDP members of the House of Commons health committee hammered the minister with questions about a timeline, a benchmark, or a set of conditions that would trigger an end to vaccine requirements for travellers and federal employees.    

Opposition call for transparent COVID decisions

People over 30 can pick up COVID-19 tests in B.C.

People over 30 can pick up COVID-19 tests in B.C.
The province expanded eligibility Monday for the rapid antigen tests, which are intended for future use in case of illness and should not be picked up by anyone with symptoms of an active infection. Eligible individuals can pick up one kit of five tests every 28 days by showing their personal health number.

People over 30 can pick up COVID-19 tests in B.C.

Six more Sunwing party flight passengers fined

Six more Sunwing party flight passengers fined
Videos of the charter flight shared on social media showed unmasked passengers in close proximity singing and dancing in the aisle and on seats as some clutched bottles of liquor, snapped selfies and vaped.

Six more Sunwing party flight passengers fined

Man charged in Ottawa arson during convoy protest

Man charged in Ottawa arson during convoy protest
Police say Connor Russell McDonald, 21, has been charged with arson causing property damage and disregard for human life, mischief to property endangering life, mischief to property, and possession of incendiary material.    

Man charged in Ottawa arson during convoy protest

506 COVID19 cases over 3 days

506 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are 271 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 49 are in intensive care. In the past 72 hours, eight new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,974.

506 COVID19 cases over 3 days