And so with that I eat my words as there really is nothing to see here other than privacy laws that offer no privacy as long as the government gets their $18 bucks for the search.
Remember how Canadian media went nuts over the 'phone hacking' story that came from the UK?
Where are the multiple stories and live tweets over this?
From today's Toronto Star: "Leung would only give his first name, but the Star was able to find his full name by putting a trace on his licence plate."
"Over the past few weeks, the Star has tracked the makes and plates of dozens of cars in the neighbourhood."
The Star openly admits that it traced dozens of licence plates, which can only be done through Ontario Ministry of Transport computers, and we have almost complete silence from the Canadian media. I guess that phone hacking was much more important for our media to cover, and live tweet, than it is when a home grown media outfit like the Toronto Star uses private information protected under legislation and most likely illegally obtained through Ontario government sources. ( I can't see ANY way that it was done legally.)
If only there was some way to tie Rupert Murdoch to this; then I could guarantee you that our MSM would be all over it.
Update: My tweet to the author of the Star story Antonia Zerbisias:
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Anybody can pay a fee and have a plate search done. Complete non-story.
ReplyDeleteUm... not to burst your bubble of outrage or anything... but... well... don't the Star's actions (reported by the Star in fact) have to be, um, illegal to be any kind of equivalent to the decades long illegal, authorized and directed from the top, hacking and bribery (among many other illegalities claimed) scandal?
ReplyDeleteJust askin'.
Do they call that the stalker search?
ReplyDeleteYou can pay to have a vehicle history based on a VIN number but not for personal information from a licence plate.
Really? Anyone can run a licence plate in Ontario?
ReplyDeleteThat seems nuts for so many reasons.
$18 does indeed allow anyone with your licence plate # to access to your full name.
ReplyDeleteI should have researched the relevant Ontario law before hitting the publish button. #fail on my part.
$18 not only gets the persons name but who financed the car and how much is owed on it.
ReplyDeletebocanut
For $20 and the vin number you can get the UVIP (Used Vehicle Information Package)which will give you the registered owners name, address, any liens outstanding on the vehicle, and the names and cities of previous owners.
ReplyDelete2 bucks more and you can find the address of the owner and the names of ALL previous owners?
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't know better I would swear that Ontario has NO privacy laws at all.
It's there to allow people to sell cars safely and securely, and block an illegal car market. It allows an open freer market without much state interference or the need for the state to regulate or administer. Thought conservatives supported that sort of thing.
ReplyDelete