We're not spying: Bell Sympatico

MARYANNA LEWYCKYJ, TORONTO SUN | June 29 2006

Bell Sympatico says it doesn't intend to start snooping on surfers, despite a recent change to the wording of its customer service agreement.

A clause in the agreement, which took effect June 15, has raised fears that Sympatico may start routinely monitoring e-mail messages of customers.

The clause states that Sympatico reserves the right to "monitor or investigate content on your use of your service provider's network and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy any laws, regulations or other government request."

The wording had sparked concerns that Sympatico would have more sweeping powers to scrutinize user activity.

However, Bell Canada spokesman Paolo Pasquini said published reports that hinted at a Big Brother scenario were offbase.

"Bell collaborates with law enforcement agencies only when presented with legitimate court-ordered warrants," said Pasquini. "To suggest that we are illegally or routinely monitoring our customers is inaccurate and false."

He added that Bell Canada has "a long and established history of protecting the privacy of its customers."

Michael Geist, an Internet law professor at the University of Ottawa, believes Sympatico's new contract language is a sign that the telecommunications industry expects the Conservative government to introduce an Internet surveillance bill.

The act was originally introduced by the Liberals last November, but died when the minority government fell.

Ontario Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian believes any surveillance efforts should be backed up by probable cause.

"Expanding the power of the state to encroach into the lives of law-abiding citizens by accessing their personal e-mails is very offensive from a privacy perspective, absent a court-ordered warrant," Cavoukian said .