140 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
140 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
# Freedom From Surveillance
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!!! quote "Privacy Wisdom"
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"Just because we have nothing to hide doesn't mean we should live in glass houses."
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[Call Danielle Smith, Premier](tel:7804272251){ .md-button }
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[Email the Premier](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/privacy-rights){ .md-button }
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[Call Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation](tel:7806448830){ .md-button }
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[Email Minister of Technology and Innovation](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/tech-privacy){ .md-button }
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## Why Do We Need Freedom From Surveillance?
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Because somehow we went from "1984 is a warning" to "1984 is a user manual." Let's talk about why our toasters don't need to spy on our breakfast habits.
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### Our Current "Freedom" System
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!!! example "A Day Under Surveillance"
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1. We wake up (Google knows when)
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2. We check our phones (Facebook logs it)
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3. We drive to work (Traffic cams track us)
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4. We buy lunch (Our banks record it)
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5. We browse internet (Everyone tracks this)
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6. We repeat until privacy is just a memory
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## What Real Freedom From Surveillance Looks Like
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- Digital privacy (our DMs aren't public property)
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- Public anonymity (walking downtown isn't consent to be tracked)
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- Data control (our information belongs to us)
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- Secure communications (encryption isn't suspicious)
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- Private spaces (both online and offline)
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### But What About Security?!
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!!! info "Plot Twist"
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Security and privacy aren't opposites. We can lock our doors AND have curtains on our windows. Amazing concept, we know.
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## The Real Issues
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### Digital Surveillance
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- Our smart devices are little spies
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- Apps shouldn't need our entire contact lists
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- Our TVs don't need to watch us back
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- Cookies aren't just for eating anymore
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### Public Surveillance
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- Facial recognition isn't mandatory for existing
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- License plate readers aren't collecting recipes
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- Security cameras shouldn't track shopping habits
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- Our movement patterns are our business
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### Corporate Tracking
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- Loyalty cards are surveillance programs
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- Free services aren't actually free
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- Our shopping habits are being sold
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- Our phones are tracking devices that make calls
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!!! tip "Pro Freedom Tip"
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If we think privacy doesn't matter, let's try giving our phone's unlock code to everyone we meet. Suddenly privacy seems important, eh?
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## The Privacy Paradox
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What They Say vs Our Reality:
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- "Nothing to hide" ≠ Nothing to protect
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- "For our security" ≠ For our benefit
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- "Personalized experience" ≠ Privacy respect
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- "Terms of service" ≠ Informed consent
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### What We're Missing
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- Real data protection laws
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- Right to be forgotten
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- Encryption by default
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- Privacy-respecting alternatives
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- Control over our personal data
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- Surveillance-free spaces
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## The Economic Impact
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The cost of surveillance on us:
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- Privacy becomes a luxury
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- Innovation gets stifled
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- Trust erodes
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- Democracy weakens
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- Freedom diminishes
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!!! warning "Reality Check"
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Our right to privacy isn't negotiable just because technology makes it easier to violate it.
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## The Bottom Line
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Freedom from surveillance means having the right to exist without constant monitoring. It means understanding that privacy isn't about hiding bad things - it's about maintaining our basic human dignity.
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!!! note "Let's Get Involved"
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Ready to fight surveillance? Let's start by:
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- Using privacy-respecting services
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- Supporting encryption rights
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- Questioning unnecessary data collection
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- Teaching others about privacy
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- Demanding better privacy laws
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Remember: Just because they can watch doesn't mean they should. Privacy isn't just a right - it's a cornerstone of our freedom.
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---
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## Sources & Evidence
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### Alberta Surveillance & Data Collection
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- Alberta's **Health Information Act** governs health data but has faced criticism for inadequate protections
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- The province collects significant data through various programs with limited transparency about usage
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- Municipal surveillance programs (traffic cameras, ALPR systems) operate with varying oversight
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- Source: [Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta](https://www.oipc.ab.ca/)
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### Digital Privacy Concerns
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- Alberta's **Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)** covers private sector data collection
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- Privacy breaches continue to be reported across government and private sectors
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- Facial recognition technology use by police services lacks comprehensive provincial regulation
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- Source: [PIPA Guidelines - Alberta](https://www.alberta.ca/personal-information-protection-act.aspx)
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### Police Surveillance
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- Edmonton and Calgary police use various surveillance technologies including:
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- Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs)
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- Body cameras
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- Social media monitoring tools
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- Civilian oversight of police surveillance technologies remains limited
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- Source: [Edmonton Police Commission](https://edmontonpolicecommission.com/)
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- Source: [Calgary Police Commission](https://www.calgarypolicecommission.ca/)
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### Corporate Data Collection
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- Major telecom and tech companies collect extensive data on Albertans
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- "Smart city" initiatives raise privacy concerns about public space surveillance
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- Data broker industry operates with minimal provincial regulation
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- Source: [Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic](https://cippic.ca/)
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