Cybercrime, “it was urgent six years ago”

Photo Antoine Lacroix
The chiefs of police of Gatineau and Montreal, Mario Harel (left) and Philip Pitcher, would like to be better equipped to fight cybercrime.

Antoine Lacroix

Wednesday, 19 July, 2017 20:22

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Wednesday, 19 July, 2017 20:22

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The chiefs of police of Canada would like to be provided with the necessary tools to combat cybercrime, which are rising steadily in recent years.

“It takes solutions to help us in our investigations. The solution involves an update of the legislation. It was urgent six years ago, ” said Mario Harel, president of the canadian Association of chiefs of police (CACP) and the director of the Service de police de Gatineau.

The police chiefs of the country had gathered since Sunday in Montreal on the occasion of their annual conference. Those who believe that cybercrime, such as child luring, sexual exploitation, bullying, scams and fraud, should become a national priority.

Entrance doors

However, the legislation, ” which dates from the time of the phone to dial “, needs to be updated, said Mr. Harel.

“We made representations to the governmental authorities because it takes a legislation that would compel manufacturers [software encryption] to have entrance doors that could allow us, with search warrants, to obtain evidence related to a crime,” he says.

He wanted a bill to be quickly filed to this effect.

This is a view shared by the director of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), Philip Pitcher, who is said to have need of tools for ” patrolling cyberspace “.

“We shouldn’t wait for cyber crime goes too far and after react. […] If one wants to be a police service to be effective, it must be able to follow the trends and look at where [the crime] is going to be able to redirect its resources, ” believes Mr. Pitcher, who says he is concerned by what is happening now, especially on the dark web.

To meet the new challenges of online crime, the agenda of vigilance of the SPVM provides that the resources will go from two to 12 employees in charge of surveys on the web, to collect information and monitor social networks.

This number is expected to increase over the years.

Privacy

Many people are concerned about the privacy of the public that can afford these new means of investigation. The police chiefs responded that they attack ” only to those who commit criminal acts “.

“It is necessary to say that what is happening in the virtual world made of real people and that these are real crimes. […] It is the criminals who benefit, ” said Mario Harel.

“The new technologies bring us tools, but also other issues “, believes Philippe Pitcher.

“When we did a survey, it’s part of something. We’re not going to spy on the world. […] It will look for permissions. As a citizen, have to ask the question. If one becomes a victim, is what we would like to stop the criminal who did a crime ? ” wonders the chief of POLICE.