Interception of Private Communications

• < Search and Seizure
• < Warrant Searches
• < Wiretaps

Generally

Wiretaps are governed by Part VI of the Criminal Code.

There are four categories of wiretap:

• a general wiretap authorized under s. 185 and 186.
• a wiretap with consent under s. 184.2
• an emergency wiretap under s. 184.1, 184.4 and 188
• video intercepts s. 487.01

The emergency wiretap (s. 184.1), exceptional circumstances wiretaps (s. 184.4), and video intercepts (s. 487.01) do not require full judicial authorization.

A wilful interception of "a private communication" without authorization is a indictable offence under s. 184 with a maximum penalty of 5 years. This offence does not include situations where one of the parties consents (s.184(2)).

An interception of a private communication under a Part VI authorization is a search and seizure under s. 8 of the Charter.

The right to full answer and defence permits the accused to examine an edited version of the materials available to the authorizing judge to support the wiretap authorization.

Modern electronic surveillance has been singled out as a particularly powerful form of privacy intrusion. But unregulated, it would destroy any sort of privacy and would threaten society.

The Crown and police have a positive obligation not to disseminate irrelevant private communications revealed within a wiretap.

History

The modern legislation protecting against the interception of private communications arose from the 1969 Ouimet report which resulted in the Protection of Privacy Act.

Purpose

The purpose of these provisions is to "strike a balance between the protection of privacy and the availability of effective law enforcement techniques".

Electronic surveillance has the potential to "annihilate" any expectation of privacy in our communications. Society should not expose us to permanent electronic surveillance.

Surveillance is one of the "the greatest leveler[s] of human privacy ever known".

"Authorization"

Definitions
183 In this Part,
authorization means an authorization to intercept a private communication given under section 186 or subsection 184.2(3), 184.3(6) or 188(2); (autorisation)
...
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 183; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), ss. 7, 23, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213, c. 1 (4th Supp.), s. 13, c. 29 (4th Supp.), s. 17, c. 42 (4th Supp.), s. 1; 1991, c. 28, s. 12; 1992, c. 27, s. 90; 1993, c. 7, s. 5, c. 25, s. 94, c. 40, s. 1, c. 46, s. 4; 1995, c. 39, s. 140; 1996, c. 19, s. 66; 1997, c. 18, s. 7, c. 23, s. 3; 1998, c. 34, s. 8; 1999, c. 2, s. 47, c. 5, s. 4; 2000, c. 24, s. 43; 2001, c. 32, s. 4, c. 41, ss. 5, 31, 133; 2002, c. 22, s. 409; 2004, c. 15, s. 108; 2005, c. 32, s. 10, c. 43, s. 1; 2008, c. 6, s. 15; 2009, c. 2, s. 442, c. 22, s. 4, c. 28, s. 3; 2010, c. 3, s. 1, c. 14, s. 2; 2012, c. 1, s. 24; 2013, c. 8, s. 2, c. 9, s. 14, c. 13, s. 7; 2014, c. 17, s. 2, c. 25, s. 11, c. 31, s. 7, c. 32, s. 59; 2015, c. 20, s. 19.

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"Private Communication"

Section 183 defines "private communication":

183.
...
"private communication" means any oral communication, or any telecommunication, that is made by an originator who is in Canada or is intended by the originator to be received by a person who is in Canada and that is made under circumstances in which it is reasonable for the originator to expect that it will not be intercepted by any person other than the person intended by the originator to receive it, and includes any radio-based telephone communication that is treated electronically or otherwise for the purpose of preventing intelligible reception by any person other than the person intended by the originator to receive it; (communication privée)
...
...2015, c. 20, s. 19.

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A communication is private where the originator has a reasonable expectation that the communication would "not be intercepted by any person other than the person intended by the originator to receive it". The intention of who is to receive the communication includes those who the originator had knowledge would receive it but may not desire them to receive it.

Where it is reasonable to expect that the communication may be listened to or recorded, then it is not a private communication.

Communication requires some exchange of information between persons and not simply all information capturable by the interception. Consequently, sounds not intended to convey information does not constitute a communication.

The following has been found not to be a "private communication":

• Electronic signals captured by a digital number recorder (DNR)
• communication of a paging device.
• a prayer to God as God does not meet the legal definition of a person.
• a cassette sent through the mail
• prayers to God

The "originator" refers to the person whose "remarks which the Crown seeks to adduce in evidence" and are protected under Part VI of the Code.

"Interception"

"Interception" means to "listen to, record or acquire a communication or acquire the substance, meaning or purport thereof;" (s. 183).

The interception must be done by way of an "electromagnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device" (s.183).

Consequently, simply to use one's human senses without technological aids does not invoke Part VI.

Telephone communications between the accused and the police who answers the phone at a drug house and assumes the identity of the home owner is not covered by Part VI.

There does not need to be temporal connection between the message seizure and the transmission of the message.

Text messages saved within the network of a service provider can be otained by a production order as it is not an "intercept".

Definitions
183 In this Part,
...
electro-magnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device means any device or apparatus that is used or is capable of being used to intercept a private communication, but does not include a hearing aid used to correct subnormal hearing of the user to not better than normal hearing; (dispositif électromagnétique, acoustique, mécanique ou autre)
...
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 183; ... 2000, c. 24, s. 43; 2001, c. 32, s. 4, c. 41, ss. 5, 31, 133; 2002, c. 22, s. 409; 2004, c. 15, s. 108; 2005, c. 32, s. 10, c. 43, s. 1; 2008, c. 6, s. 15; 2009, c. 2, s. 442, c. 22, s. 4, c. 28, s. 3; 2010, c. 3, s. 1, c. 14, s. 2; 2012, c. 1, s. 24; 2013, c. 8, s. 2, c. 9, s. 14, c. 13, s. 7; 2014, c. 17, s. 2, c. 25, s. 11, c. 31, s. 7, c. 32, s. 59; 2015, c. 20, s. 19.

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"Telecommunications"

Section 35 of the Interpretation Act defines "telecommunications" as: "means the emission, transmission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds or intelligence of any nature by any wire, cable, radio, optical or other electromagnetic system, or by any similar technical system"

This definition was found to include technology such as Dialed number recorders.

This term is also used in the offence of Child Luring (Offence), Agree or Arrange a Sexual Offence Against Child (Offence), and Telecommunication Offences (Offence).

Warrants Apply to Many Types of Communication

One application for authorization sufficient
184.6 For greater certainty, an application for an authorization under this Part may be made with respect to both private communications and radio-based telephone communications at the same time.
1993, c. 40, s. 4.

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"Offence"

Within the provisions of the wiretap sections of the code, "offence" refers to a specific closed-list of offences. Those offences are listed within s. 2. It will include any conspiracies, attempts or counselling to commit the offence, or any accessories after the fact.

• See List of Designated Wiretap Eligible Offences

Misc Wiretap Terms

Definitions
183 In this Part,
...
police officer means any officer, constable or other person employed for the preservation and maintenance of the public peace; (policier)
...
public switched telephone network means a telecommunication facility the primary purpose of which is to provide a land line-based telephone service to the public for compensation; (réseau téléphonique public commuté)
radio-based telephone communication means any radiocommunication within the meaning of the Radiocommunication Act that is made over apparatus that is used primarily for connection to a public switched telephone network; (communication radiotéléphonique)
sell includes offer for sale, expose for sale, have in possession for sale or distribute or advertise for sale; (vendre) solicitor means, in the Province of Quebec, an advocate or a notary and, in any other province, a barrister or solicitor. (avocat)
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 183; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), ss. 7, 23, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213, c. 1 (4th Supp.), s. 13, c. 29 (4th Supp.), s. 17, c. 42 (4th Supp.), s. 1; 1991, c. 28, s. 12; 1992, c. 27, s. 90; 1993, c. 7, s. 5, c. 25, s. 94, c. 40, s. 1, c. 46, s. 4; 1995, c. 39, s. 140; 1996, c. 19, s. 66; 1997, c. 18, s. 7, c. 23, s. 3; 1998, c. 34, s. 8; 1999, c. 2, s. 47, c. 5, s. 4; 2000, c. 24, s. 43; 2001, c. 32, s. 4, c. 41, ss. 5, 31, 133; 2002, c. 22, s. 409; 2004, c. 15, s. 108; 2005, c. 32, s. 10, c. 43, s. 1; 2008, c. 6, s. 15; 2009, c. 2, s. 442, c. 22, s. 4, c. 28, s. 3; 2010, c. 3, s. 1, c. 14, s. 2; 2012, c. 1, s. 24; 2013, c. 8, s. 2, c. 9, s. 14, c. 13, s. 7; 2014, c. 17, s. 2, c. 25, s. 11, c. 31, s. 7, c. 32, s. 59; 2015, c. 20, s. 19.

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Interception to prevent bodily harm
184.1 (1) ...
Definition of agent of the state
(4) For the purposes of this section, agent of the state means

(a) a peace officer; and

(b) a person acting under the authority of, or in cooperation with, a peace officer.

1993, c. 40, s. 4.

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Topics

• Intercept of Private Communications (Offence)
• Third Party Wiretaps (s. 185 and 186)
• Consent Wiretaps
• Warrantless Wiretaps
• Admitting Wiretap Evidence
• Sealing and Unsealing Judicial Authorizations
• Execution of Wiretap
• Annual Wiretap Reports