Who’s watching?

“Back in March 2019, I dove into Project Wide Awake — the RCMP internet monitoring project — based on info I could get after unearthing it in an RCMP letter to the privacy commissioner. I also filed a Freedom of Information request. Then, I waited.

“Nineteen months and a complaint to the Information Commissioner that oversees access requests later (my story about the RCMP’s worst record on access requests didn’t hurt, either) — I received 3,000 pages of info the force didn’t necessarily volunteer.

“The documents reveal that the RCMP:

• Unmasks private Facebook friend lists
• Hid software contracts from the public
• Top officer unleashed ‘fury of negative comments’ at force before taking Huawei job
• Discussed covert operations where ‘no links to RCMP’ are allowed

“I hope you enjoy the read — as well as the debate on the levels of transparency and secrecy needed by the force in its online police work.”

Read the full scoop from Bryan Carney here.