In the words of Snowden, spying on journalists in Quebec “is a radical attack on journalism of the free press”

It was revealed this week that at least seven journalists in Quebec, working for Radio-Canada, La Presse and La Journal de Montréal, have been spied on by the Montreal police (SPVM) and Quebec provincial police (SQ). Further revelations have shown journalists to have been under surveillance since 2008, some for as long as five years at a time. Some were cases of « pen register » surveillance, tracking incoming and out-going calls. Others included GPS surveillance, tracking an individual’s physical location.

The majority of these journalists are known for scrutinizing the activities of police authorities and for their work on corruption. All had their cellphone activities monitored in a way that would reveal who they spoke to when as well as their movements around Quebec and anywhere else in the world. This level of surveillance of journalists in Canada is unprecedented and gravely threatens the ability of the press to serve its function as a watchdog of the state as well as the general preservation of our right to freedom of expression.

These latest revelations do not exist in a vacuum and should be seen in the context of other recent threats to journalists in Canada as well as on-going efforts by our police forces and intelligence agencies to gain broader domestic surveillance powers. These incidents are clear examples of efforts to intimidate journalists working to hold state power accountable. Here are some key points in a developing story :

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Evan Light

Associate professor / Professeur agrégé Communications Program / Programme de communications Glendon College, York University / Collège universitaire Glendon, Université York