Glenn Greenwald Predicts Security Crackdown, More Canadian Secrecy

CP | By Nelson Wyatt, The Canadian Press

Posted: 10/23/2014 4:15 pm EDT Updated: 12/23/2014 5:59 am EST

American journalist Glenn Greenwald says he would be surprised if the Ottawa shooting does not influence "greater secrecy powers." | AP/Reuters

MONTREAL - Canadians should expect sweeping security and surveillance measures following attacks against the military in Quebec and Ottawa, says the man who helped expose wide-ranging government monitoring of citizens in the United States.

"I will be shocked if the events of this week don't result in far greater secrecy powers and far greater surveillance powers than existed previously," Glenn Greenwald told The Canadian Press on Thursday.

"I've seen it so many times where the fear and nationalism that get generated by these events render almost inevitable not just the enactment of legislation that was already pending but I'll bet new and wholly more extreme measures as well."

Greenwald, a journalist and author, chronicled Edward Snowden's revelations of extensive National Security Agency surveillance programs last year.

Shortly after Greenwald's comments, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the Commons the "surveillance, detention and arrest" powers of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service will quickly be toughened.

"They need to be much strengthened, and I assure you, Mr. Speaker, that work — which is already underway — will be expedited," he said.

Greenwald was in Montreal to deliver a lecture at McGill University as part of a swing through several Canadian cities.

While working at the Guardian newspaper in Britain, Greenwald put the spotlight on a treasure trove of data from top-secret documents leaked by Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower.

Greenwald has since become co-editor of The Intercept, which looks at security issues.

He said Canada should not be underestimated when it comes to intelligence gathering, noting it is part of the so-called "Five Eyes" alliance of countries that includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

"They literally want to collect and store every electronic communication activity that takes place by and between human beings everywhere in the world, which is another way of saying they want to eliminate privacy in the digital age," he said.

"Canada is a recipient of enormous amounts of information that come from this alliance and they are contributors of enormous amounts of information that come from this alliance."

Greenwald questioned government arguments that increased surveillance has thwarted terrorist plans, saying the avalanche of information collected may have even hindered efforts.

He said intelligence activity didn't prevent this week's killing of Canadian soldiers in Quebec and Ottawa, while the significant capabilities of the National Security Agency didn't stop the Boston Marathon bombing last year or an attempted attack on New York's Times Square in 2010.

"Once you allow a government to engage in massive surveillance, rather than targeted surveillance, they end up collecting so much information, so much data that it's impossible for them to know what it is they have," he said.

"It actually subverts the goal of counter-terrorism."

He said Canadians still have a greater risk of dying from slipping in the bathtub or getting hit by lightning than from a terrorist attack.

Greenwald acknowledged there could be some pressure from the United States for Canada to toughen its laws.

He also said Canadians have to realize that their foreign policy, such as the decision to help fight ISIL in Iraq, has consequences despite the country's peaceful reputation.

"When you have your military in other countries, if you're sending fighter jets to drop bombs on countries, that's not peaceful."

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An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014.
An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn, outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Oct. 22, 2014.
RCMP intervention team members clear the area at the entrance of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Oct. 22, 2014.
Police and paramedics tend to a soldier shot at the National Memorial near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014.
Police teams enter Centre Block at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014.
Ottawa police patrol along the Elgin St. steps near the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada, Oct. 22, 2014.
RCMP and Ottawa police cruisers on Wellington St. stand guard after a shooting at the National War Memorial near the Canadian Parliament Oct. 22, 2014.
Ottawa police direct traffic on Elgin St. near the National War Memorial, Oct. 22, 2014.
An Ottawa police officer stands guard on Wellington St. after a shooting occurred at the National War Memorial near the Canadian Parliament Oct. 22, 2014.
An Ottawa police office draws her weapon outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014.
Police teams move towards Centre Block at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014.
An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014.
Police secure an area around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014.
A soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial was shot by an unknown gunman and people reported hearing gunfire inside the halls of Parliament.
Paramedics and police pull a shooting victim away from the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. A Canadian soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa has been shot by an unknown gunman and there are reports of gunfire inside the halls of Parliament.
An RCMP intervention team runs next to a Parliament building in Ottawa Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. A Canadian soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa has been shot by an unknown gunman and there are reports of gunfire inside the halls of Parliament.
RCMP intervention team members walk past a gate on Parliament hill in Ottawa.
A soldier, police and paramedics tend to a soldier shot at the National Memorial near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014.
Police secure an area around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. A gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill and wounded a security guard before he was shot, reportedly by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms.
Police secure an area around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. A gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill and wounded a security guard before he was shot, reportedly by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms.
Police and paramedics tend to a soldier shot at the National Memorial near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. Police are expanding a perimeter around Parliament Hill after a gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill where he was reportedly shot by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms after wounding a security guard.
Heavily-armed RCMP officers arrive at 24 Sussex Drive, the residence of Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014.
Civilians leave a secured area around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. Police are expanding a perimeter around Parliament Hill after a gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill where he was reportedly shot by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms after wounding a security guard.The Hill remains under lockdown amid reports there may be two to three shooters, according to a senior official locked in the Official Opposition Leaders' office.
Police teams move towards Centre Block at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. A gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill and wounded a security guard before he was shot, reportedly by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms.
An Ottawa police office draws her weapon in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. Police are expanding a security perimeter in the heart of the national capital after a gunman opened fire and wounded a soldier at the National War Memorial before injuring a security guard on Parliament Hill, where he was reportedly shot dead by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms.
An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014.Police are expanding a security perimeter in the heart of the national capital after a gunman opened fire and wounded a soldier at the National War Memorial before injuring a security guard on Parliament Hill, where he was reportedly shot dead by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms.
People under lockdown look out of an office building near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. A gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill and wounded a security guard before he was shot, reportedly by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms.
Police search cars and pedestrians as they leave the Alexandra Bridge and enter Gatineau, Que. near the Parliament Buildings during an active shooter situation in Ottawa on Wednesday, October 22, 2014.
Police officers take cover in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014.Police are expanding a security perimeter in the heart of the national capital after a gunman opened fire and wounded a soldier at the National War Memorial before injuring a security guard on Parliament Hill, where he was reportedly shot dead by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms.
Traiffic is stopped below Parliament Hill during a lock down in the downtown core of Ottawa after a member of the Canadian Armed Forces was shot in Ottawa, Wednesday October 22, 2014.
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Prime minister's limo and protection detail at 24 Sussex Drive.
East Block of Parliament.
Bank of Canada building.
National Capital Commission display titled "Representations of Canada" in Confederation Square.
Roadblock on Elgin Street.
Bus shelter on Parliament Hill.
Prime Minister's Office, Langevin Block.
Israeli Embassy.
Government buildings on Laurier Avenue.
Embassy of the Unites States of America.
Photojournalists on Wellington Street.
Taxation Centre at 875 Heron Road.
Confederation Boulevard.
Public Service Alliance of Canada headquarters.
RCMP Headquarters.