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Vic Toews: Internet Turns On Public Safety Minister Over Lawful Access Bill And Child Pornography (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post Canada   First Posted: 02/16/2012 10:54 am Updated: 02/17/2012 1:15 pm

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Vic Toews Youtube Vikileaks Twitter
Vic Toews, Canada's Public Safety Minister, is getting savaged on the Internet, such as #tellviceverything, after he introduced the Tories' new online surveillance bill C-30, the Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act. (YouTube)

In the parlance of the times, Vic Toews is getting pwned.

Canada's Public Safety Minister is getting savaged on the Internet after he introduced the Tories' new online surveillance bill C-30, the Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act.

While the bill doesn't actually mention children or predators anywhere except in the title, Toews used the argument in the House of Commons that those who are against the bill to widen authorities' access to our online data stand with the those who prey on children.

Then, on CTV's "Power Play" with Don Martin, Toews essentially denied he had linked the bill's critics with child pornogrpahers. "I didn't exactly say that, Don. In fact, it was a far cry from that," the Minister said.

Enter YouTube user SleepyRobAnders.

The video impresario behind recent clips of sleeping MPs, flip flops and finger guns, put together a clip comparing Toews comments on "Power Play" with what he actually said in the House — to devastating effect. The clip is now racking up views on YouTube.

The video isn't the first or only Internet attack on Toews.

On Wednesday, the Web erupted after an anonymous Twitter account began posting material allegedly lifted from affidavits related to Toews divorce. On Thursday, the account moved on to tweets on the Minister's spending habits. Toews responded on Twitter that he wouldn't get involved in this sort of "gutter politics," but the Web didn't let up.

TWITTER REACTS TO ATTACK ON TOEWS

Instead, users across Canada began crafting hilarious tweets around the hashtags #DontToewsMeBro AND #TellVicEverything. Even Justin Trudeau, who denounced the anonymous tweets on Toews' divorce, joined in the fun.

FUNNIEST #DontToewsMeBro AND #TellVicEverything TWEETS

The vigorous response from the Web seems to be a sign that pushback on the Conservatives' online surveillance bill, and a separate bill on copyright reform, is beginning to resemble the successful opposition to the SOPA and PIPA bills in the United States, which culminated in Black Wednesday, when sites such as Wikipedia and Reddit shut down in opposition to a more regulated Internet.

The Conservatives are styling Bill C-30 as a law to protect children from online predators, but privacy advocates and opposition MPs say it's far too broad.

Among other provisions, it would allow authorities access to Internet subscriber information — including name, address, telephone number and email address — without first getting a court's go-ahead.

Currently, it is voluntary for Internet service providers to hand such data to police.

Amid the strong online response, the Tories have already indicated they may bend on the bill. Looks like pwnage can get political.

Video via SleepyRobAnders on YouTube. Get the latest videos on Twitter.

With files from The Canadian Press.

Loading Slideshow...

  • What's In Online-Snooping Bill

    Like similar legislation introduced in the past by both Conservative and Liberal governments, the new bill includes provisions that would: <em>With files from CBC</em> (Shutterstock)

  • Warantless Online Info

    Require telecommunications and internet providers to give subscriber data to police, national security agencies and the Competition Bureau without a warrant, including names, phone numbers and IP addresses. (CP)

  • Back Door Access

    Force internet providers and other makers of technology to provide a "back door" to make communications accessible to police. (Getty)

  • Location, Location, Location

    Allow police to get warrants to obtain information transmitted over the internet and data related to its transmission, including locations of individuals and transactions. (Alamy)

  • Preserve Data

    Allow courts to compel other parties to preserve electronic evidence. (Alamy)

  • New Bill Is Different

    However, unlike the most recent previous version of the bill, the new legislation: (Alamy)

  • Less Data

    Requires telecommunications providers to disclose, without a warrant, just six types of identifiers from subscriber data instead of 11. (Alamy)

  • Oversight

    Provides for an internal audit of warrantless requests that will go to a government minister and oversight review body. Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews is pictured. (CP)

  • Review After 5 Years

    Includes a provision for a review after five years. (Alamy)

  • More Time To Implement

    Allows telecommunications service providers to take 18 months instead of 12 months to buy equipment that would allow police to intercept communications. (Alamy)

  • Expanded Definitions

    Changes the definition of hate propaganda to include communication targeting sex, age and gender. (Alamy)

FUNNIEST #DontToewsMeBro AND #TellVicEverything TWEETS

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  • Twitter Reacts To Vikileaks Resignation And Tory Online Surveillance Bill

    UPDATE: On Monday Feb. 27, Liberal leader acknowledged that a Liberal staffer was behind the Vikileaks30 Twitter account that released information about Vic Toews' divorce. That person has been fired and Rae has apologized to the House Of Commons. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews faced an online backlash due to his championing of Bill C-30, the lawful access bill. Two hashtags, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23donttoewsmebro -rt" target="_hplink">#donttoewsmebro</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23TellVicEverything" target="_hplink">#tellviceverything</a> became the vocal points of internet humour and commentary. Photo: CP

  • Will

  • Neil Edmondson

  • Neil Edmondson

  • Stephen Lautens

  • David Akin

  • Will

  • David Akin

  • amy minsky

  • Meagan Fitzpatrick

  • kady o'malley

  • Cicero, for Canada

  • BMW

  • Lorna Yard

  • Zach Armstrong

  • Joseph Uranowski

  • David Eaves

  • Jesse Hawken

  • Darvin111

  • Justin Trudeau, MP

  • Omar Alghabra

  • ThisHourHas22Minutes

  • Lucy T.

  • Andre Morneault

  • khannaford

  • Doug Johnson Hatlem

  • Robin Veldhoen

TWITTER REACTS TO ATTACK ON TOEWS

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In the parlance of the times, Vic Toews is getting pwned. Canada's Public Safety Minister is getting savaged on the Internet after he introduced the Tories' new online surveillance bill C-30, the P...
In the parlance of the times, Vic Toews is getting pwned. Canada's Public Safety Minister is getting savaged on the Internet after he introduced the Tories' new online surveillance bill C-30, the P...
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Read more from Huffington Post bloggers:
Michael Geist

Michael Geist: Government's Lawful Access Claims Stand on a Shaky Foundation

Canadians deserve better than deceptive claims and divisive name-calling. They deserve real judicial oversight before their personal information is disclosed and, given the costs (financial and otherwise), they deserve a full accounting on why lawful access is needed.
Michael Geist

Michael Geist: Warrantless Access Unjustified in Surveillance Bill

A Public Safety document demonstrates that the intention is to use this data for purposes that do not involve criminal or child pornography concerns..Is the government really proposing to drop key privacy protections for non-criminal concerns?

 
 
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Language Learner
152 Fans
05:22 PM on 02/20/2012
Who is going to protect babysitters from Vic Toews?

This man pleaded guilty to campaign finance laws...why is he allowed to serve in a public office?
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Pazzuzu
12 Fans
11:25 AM on 02/18/2012
All governments are inherently evil, doesn't matter if they are democratic or totalitarian, simply because people are involved. The more power a ruling body has the more they will want, it's just the nature of the beast. We as citizens must do what we can to hamstring and handcuff all government efforts to gain more control of our lives. We must make government as small as possible, and let them operate on as little money as possible. They say they want to protect the children, but I'm calling bullshit! The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
imperator prime
liberal INTJ agnostic militant guy-on-guy's guy.
92 Fans
 
10:35 PM on 02/18/2012
If "governments are inherently evil" "because people are involved" then that pretty strongly seems to imply that you think "people are inherently evil." So if that's the case, how do you think less government serves anybody's interest? If people *are* evil, then I want some system in place to police them and protect me *from* them-- the more robust, the better! But that bit of logic-- that "bad people" who are "more free" are necessarily free to do more *bad* then bad people who are more restrained by government-- usually seems to elude the dogmatic single-issue "government is bad" ideologues.

Incidentally, the ideological alternative that affords us all the most dignity, respect and freedom is to start from the premise that all people are *good.* That we all start out good, like babies, and that we can all remain good if we live mindfully, if we promote constructive and realistic values [education, temperance, peace, co-operation, etc], and if we learn to deal properly with the reality by not selfishly clinging to delusions or impermanent things. That the purpose of government is not to *control* "bad people" but to collaboratively facilitate the common goals of good people. We'd be infinitely better off if we trusted and nurtured the good in each other rather than starting from suspicion and disdain for each other.
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jrmunro
51 Fans
02:53 AM on 02/18/2012
While I am completely against this bill by the CONS I would like to mention The Libs also were going to do the same in 2005 but lost the election. Both of them are guilty of the same thing.

Bill C-74, the Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act (MITA), was introduced by the Liberals shortly before the election call. It would have allowed law enforcement agencies to obtain identifying information about you without a warrant. Even worse, it would have forced communications providers to build surveillance back-doors into the hardware that routes our phone calls, Internet traffic, and more. With the election call, Bill C-74 is dead. However, it may well be re-introduced (with a new number) in the new Parliament.
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Cathy Furlotte
1 Fans
02:29 AM on 02/18/2012
Whoever thought up Vikileaks should be awarded some kind of Canadian Internet medal. That was an awesome thing to do! Right on and thanks.
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jeremy72
13 Fans
01:41 PM on 02/17/2012
Toews and Harper swear they would not use this power for anything but tracking down criminals and child pornographers.

They would NEVER use it for political purposes.

Like, say, screening people at election events, checking their Facebook accounts to see if they could possibly have any political affiliations that they don't approve of – all done with the RCMP's help.

No, they'd never do that, would they?

Wait a minute ... oops, yes, they did, even before they had this new, increased level of snooping power.
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chuck nathaniel
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212 Fans
12:21 PM on 02/17/2012
Look. We all have to be willing to give up our privacy for imaginary boogeymen. Look how safe its made the USA!
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4eight5
62 Fans
08:15 AM on 02/17/2012
Liar, liar, pants on fire. How I wish!!!
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BCSLAVE
Got a key?
390 Fans
04:40 AM on 02/17/2012
Vic, I stole cookies from my mom's cookie jar! Another case of unreported crime!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Whistlejackett
Hey stop doing that
1001 Fans
 
04:23 AM on 02/17/2012
What a bumbling fool. hahahaha
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Rusty Bucket
Intensely interested in the human condition!
12 Fans
04:16 AM on 02/17/2012
If one were to consider some of the current crop of politicians a little lacking in the top story, consider too the intelligence of the knuckle draggers that elected them. And bear in mind that they, “these voters”, also serve on juries. Now that is a scary thought!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
opprobrious
More speech. Less Flagging.
930 Fans
03:30 AM on 02/17/2012
Couldn't happen to a nicer mental midget.
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Spanky McFarlane
ILLEGITIMUS NON CARBORUNDUM.
188 Fans
12:42 AM on 02/17/2012
"Vancouver police busted circulating porn at work"

Yeah, Right on Vic.
These are the guys that should be overseeing us without a warrant.

Conservatives need to get real & fast!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
piceaglauca
The picture says it all....
295 Fans
 
11:07 PM on 02/16/2012
If the Internet is that powerful lets crank it up and solve a few more problems.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
PG13
63 Fans
10:15 PM on 02/16/2012
it's you guys' fault, you elected a conservative majority.
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chuck nathaniel
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212 Fans
12:22 PM on 02/17/2012
only by default since the vast majority didnt vote.
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Alberto66
203 Fans
10:05 PM on 02/16/2012
Man it is so delicious. The first video has him saying he didn't say something and then we have the clip where he most certainly did say if you didn't support his view, you supported the pornographers. What an everloving family values sleezebaag. Have always disliked this man and his grip on the short and curlies of the party and the PM.
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