Spies zero in on file-sharing services as part of terrorist hunt: CBC

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Jan, 2015 11:18 AM

OTTAWA — A new report says Canada's electronic spy agency sifts through millions of videos and documents downloaded every day through file-sharing services as part of its bid to find terrorists.

CBC News says details of the Communications Security Establishment project, called Levitation, are revealed in a 2012 PowerPoint presentation obtained by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

CBC analyzed the document with U.S. news website The Intercept, which obtained it from Snowden.

The document says that under Levitation, CSE analysts can access information on about 10 to 15 million uploads and downloads of files from free websites each day.

CSE says it takes strict measures to protect the privacy of Canadians.

The Ottawa-based spy service employs mathematicians, codebreakers, linguists and software experts with the aim of both collecting foreign secrets and shielding Canada's confidences from prying eyes.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Tentative 11-yr labour deal for Jazz pilots key to new deal with Air Canada

MONTREAL — Air Canada affiliate Jazz Aviation has reached a tentative, 11-year labour agreement with its pilots union that will run until the end of 2025 if it is ratified.

Tentative 11-yr labour deal for Jazz pilots key to new deal with Air Canada

Plans to sink former destroyer off B.C. coast stalled by judge's temporary stay

VANCOUVER — A plan to sink a former Canadian navy vessel off B.C.'s coast on Sunday and turn it into an artificial reef has been stalled by a Federal Court judge.

Plans to sink former destroyer off B.C. coast stalled by judge's temporary stay

B.C. mayor admits to affair, alleges spying at city hall, police harassment

SAANICH, Canada — The new mayor of the Victoria suburb of Saanich alleges his city hall computer is bugged and local police have pulled him over four times on groundless suspicions of drunk driving.

B.C. mayor admits to affair, alleges spying at city hall, police harassment

Race influences breast cancer outcome; black women more likely to die: study

TORONTO — A new study suggests race may influence whether women diagnosed with breast cancer will survive, finding black women are more likely to die even when their tumours are found when they are small.