The House of Commons Ethics Committee reprimanded the RCMP as evasive and uncooperative for the second time in seven weeks, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. .“The committee would like to note the lack of cooperation shown by the RCMP in this study,” said MPs in a report. .“The committee is not satisfied with responses they provided to its questions.”.This reprimand came over the RCMP’s undisclosed use of spyware..The RCMP admitted for the first time in June it used spyware to hack cellphones and laptops to collect data on suspects. .READ MORE: UPDATED: RCMP admits hacking cellphones and laptops of Canadians.The spyware was being used to give the RCMP the ability to turn on the camera and microphone of a device, but it said such tools are used in the most serious cases when less intrusive techniques are unsuccessful. .RCMP has not been open about the practice of hacking cellphones and other devices, but said it has been using the technology for years..Their use of spyware was disclosed in a tabling of documents requested by Conservative MP Tako Van Popta. Van Popta asked for details of “government programs conducting surveillance or gathering information from Canadians through their phones or mobile devices.”.The Commons Ethics Committee recommended the Canadian government appoint an independent oversight committee to review new technologies deployed by police forces. MPs said national standards on spyware should be established. .“Multiple witnesses raised concerns about the use of on-device investigative tools by the RCMP or other government entities and spyware generally, especially about how these tools could violate Canadians’ freedom and right to privacy,” they said. .They said the intrusiveness of the tools and the risk they can pose to privacy are “raising concerns not only about their use by law enforcement, but also their use in the private sector.”.Several witnesses noted the importance of making changes to the legislative framework about spyware and on-device investigative tools.
