NDP's Avi Lewis Urges Canada to Block Thomson Reuters' $125 Million ICE Data Deal
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 24
NDP's Avi Lewis Urges Canada to Block Thomson Reuters' $125 Million ICE Data Deal
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 24
Summary
$125 million is at the center of Avi Lewis's demand that Mark Carney's government stop Thomson Reuters from giving ICE access to its Clear database and curb Canadian business with the agency.
The contract would let ICE use property, social media and geolocation data for "continuous monitoring" of millions of people to pursue alleged immigration and voter fraud, according to procurement documents and reports.
Lewis said Ottawa should deny export permits and strip subsidies or contracts from companies dealing with ICE, while a Canadian law professor said existing sanctions law could arguably support such restrictions.
Thomson Reuters, which says Clear is for legitimate investigations and not surveillance, has worked with ICE since 2015, but critics say the latest deal newly ties the database to Trump's false voter-fraud claims.