As many mainstream media sources sweep the controversial Trapwire counter-terrorist surveillance network controversy under the carpet, many Canadians remain unaware of this global ex-CIA run agency program. The system works by connecting a wide-range of privately owned security cameras, collecting and analyzing digital footage in a manner "designed to detect patterns indicative of terrorist attacks or criminal operations" according to the official Trapwire webpage.
Macleans reports that "Trapwire claims to “detect patterns of behavior indicative of pre-operational planning.”" However many questions remain as to how the system works, how it stores information, and how that information is used. While an initial rumour claiming that Trapwire collects facial recognition data has allegedly been debunked, there is clearly a need for more detailed information.
Macleans asks an important question we should all be considering, "If Trapwire’s activity does indeed extend to Ottawa, who’s on the receiving end of the data flow?"